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It's been a while but isn't the punchline a twist ending?
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Hmm, no, after the last plot explanations, the killer is knocked off, the heroine is saved from peril, and she goes off with her boyfriend, the end. As far as twist endings go, I don’t count a surprising killer reveal or an unexpected demise for the killer-to me it would be that the real murderer has escaped detection or it’s suggested that someone else might pick up where they left off, something like that. Of course, no one here is required to fall in with my goofy opinions.
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Fair enough. Like I said it's been a while.
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Watch Me When I Kill You(1977)- a decent little effort. Funky music= not really Twist ending= I think so Witness of murder=no Striptease=no Killer’s POV= yes Man slaps woman= yes, woman slapped by boyfriend Overloud or inappropriate music=no Outrageous title= the original would be more outrageous J&B bottle= yes , once Naked woman=no Death by stabbing= yes, in pre credit sequence Red herring=yes, I'd say, being sent off the right path by the real killer Black gloved killer= no flesh cured and rubber, again Goofy police inspector=no, in fact hardly any coppaz, at all Important picture=yes , a photograph Woman takes bath or shower= no but man does n dies in it Blackmail=no Gay/lesbian character= yes possibly a whole club full during opening credits Important memory= yes , possibly Random scene in Italian= opening credits, cabaret style, was sung in Italian, could count Ooh ooh music= no, mostly quite restrained Death by razor= yes , I think Childhood trauma= yes Killer’s footsteps= no, not that I remember So bingo total of 12 -plus 3 of you want to be slack.
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Who knew this thread would get you guys invested so passionately? Lol.
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Posted: |
Nov 3, 2022 - 2:06 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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Who knew this thread would get you guys invested so passionately? Lol. Gotta have a hobby! Don’t Torture a Duckling (Lucio Fulci, 1972) Often cited as Fulci’s best film, this is an atypical giallo, being set entirely in a small, rural southern Italian village and featuring child murder. Fulci brings a smothering sense of claustrophobia in the dark interiors and ignorance of the locals, who are fervently Catholic but still mistake illnesses for diabolical possession. A refreshingly subdued Thomas Milian performance. Decent score by Riz Ortolani, which hits the mark without scoring any GB points. Funky music - no, not in this setting Twist ending - yes (although I guessed the killer right away on first viewing) Witness of murder - yes, offscreen but pivotal Striptease - nope Killer’s POV - yes, bringing a big clue Man slaps woman - yes, a right backhander Overloud or inappropriate music - nada Outrageous title - yes, but not so much as the concept title of “Don’t Torture Donald Duck” J&B bottle - yes, repeatedly Naked woman - oh yes, the marvellous Barbara Bouchet right near the beginning, albeit it in a somewhat uncomfortable context Death by stabbing - nothing as sophisticated as that! Red herring - yes, both for the viewer and diegetic Black gloved killer - not that kind of giallo Goofy police inspector - not goofy, just modestly gifted Important picture - not really, some police cine film but hardly important Woman takes bath or shower - none of the townspeople looked as if they’d know what one was Blackmail - not really, just a misguided ransom situation Gay/lesbian character - not that I noticed Important memory - not to speak of Random scene in Italian - zero Ooh ooh music - not even close Death by razor - see “black-gloved killer” Childhood trauma - not in that way Killer’s footsteps - no So an introverted eight points for what remains one of my favourite gialli.
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Who knew this thread would get you guys invested so passionately? Lol. It beats the ' list your 10 favourite star wars hairstyle ' type of lists.
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The Bloodstained Shadow( Solamente Nero)1978, with Craig Hill This one had some nice use of its Venice locations. Unlike the others the director chose some pretty scruffy parts, for a change. Anyway- Funky music= I would say so. Stel doin' Goblin Twist ending=yes Witness of murder= yes Striptease= no Killer’s POV=yes Man slaps woman= not that I noticed Overloud or inappropriate music Outrageous title= maybe J&B bottle= several , prominent. In fact it needed an equity card for this one Naked woman= yes Death by stabbing= yes , off screen Red herring= possibly Black gloved killer=yes Goofy police inspector=no , hardly I the film Important picture= yes Woman takes bath or shower=no Blackmail=yes, though not the main plot Gay/lesbian character =yes and one was a toucher upper, ta boot! Important memory=yes Random scene in Italian= no but one in East European or similar Ooh ooh music= no Death by razor= don't think so Childhood trauma= yes Killer’s footsteps= yes So 16 herein
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Formula for a Murder( 7, Hyden Park: la casa maledetta)1985 With Stephen Warbeck and Rossano Brazzi Murder for money goes awry. Funky music= yes a bit Twist ending= no Witness of murder = no Striptease= no Killer’s POV= yes but not as much as the norm Man slaps woman= yes , I think Overloud or inappropriate music= no Outrageous title= not by normal standards J&B bottle= not a whiff and only one ciggy smoked Naked woman= yes Death by stabbing= yes + by shovel, razor, poker Red herring= no Black gloved killer= yes Goofy police inspector= no no a one Important picture= no Woman takes bath or shower= no Blackmail= no Gay/lesbian character= no Important memory= yes Random scene in Italian= no Ooh ooh music = no Death by razor=yes , ear to ear Childhood trauma= yes Killer’s footsteps= yes but.not as dominant A mear 10 on the scale
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It's funny that while you were posting the above, Damian, I was trying to make my way through Deadly Sweet with Jean-Louis Trintignant and Ewa Aulin - but, aside from some 1967 pop/mod effects (close-ups of comic book panels, scenes of swinging London), I couldn't really get engaged. It also didn't seem very giallo-like anyway.
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The Scorpion’s Tail (1971,dir. Sergio Martino) Same-year follow up to Strange Vice of Mrs.Wardh,with G.Hilton in basically same role, Edwige replaced by stunning tag team of Anita Strindberg and “Evelyn Stewart” plus Pistilli as no-bullshit “Inspector Stavros”-similar storyline of the intrigues of the continental Rich and Beautiful disrupted by scary murders well-presented by the talented Martino. Notable for showing what happens when one of those ubiquitous J&B bottles falls into the wrong hands. First giallo for Nicolai as composer, leaning heavily on the Argento- Morricone template, still enjoyable. Funky music-Morriconesque “urban menace” qualifies, No overloud/ inappropriate or ooh ooh points. Twist ending-no. Witness of murder- no. Striptease-no. Killer POV-yes. Man slaps woman-yes, quickly shown. Outrageous title-not really. J&B-wow, all over the place, used as weapon in an eye- opening sequence. Naked woman-yes. Death by stabbing-Quite. Red herring-Of every stripe, yes. Black gloves-yes. Goofy inspector-quite the opposite. Important picture-photo blown up again for clue, yes. Woman in bath/shower-damn it, no. Blackmail-short lived but yes. Gay character-no. Important memory-no. Scene in Italian- no. Death by razor-surprisingly no. Childhood trauma-no. Killer’s footsteps-don’t think so. A meager 10 points, but recommended.
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It's funny that while you were posting the above, Damian, I was trying to make my way through Deadly Sweet . I don't think I've seen that one.
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Posted: |
Nov 21, 2022 - 10:12 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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The Killer Reserved Nine Seats (Giuseppe Bennati, 1974) After a holiday hiatus, I’m back with a giallo that’s really a crossover with the earlier gothic fad. In general, I prefer events in gialli to be explicable, however unlikely. But the supernatural plays a big part in this one; almost as big a part as the freestyle continuity and occasional delightful anachronisms. I’m pretty sure that dates on 19th century grave markers weren’t written in the format 15.2.1874… A group of rich frenemies are bound together by relationships with a millionaire who owns amongst other things an abandoned theatre, which he decides to show them exactly 100 years after a series of deaths, just by coincidence. Killings ensue: who is responsible, given that they’re mysteriously locked in the building with no means of escape? The lovely Swedish Janet Agren appears in the film, and is present in one of the many boob-kissing scenes that the director presumably thought would distract from its various shortcomings; and who am I to cavil with that? Funky music - yes, during the very first boob kissing scene Twist ending - yes, I suppose so Witness of murder - oh yes Striptease - not as such Killer’s POV - not that sort of giallo Man slaps woman - yes Overloud or inappropriate music - no, good score by Carlo Savina Outrageous title - in my view, yes J&B bottle - alas no Naked woman - but of course, although not Ms Agren Death by stabbing - yes Red herring - several misdirections given to both characters and viewer Black gloved killer - yes, a little nod to the genre, I felt Goofy police inspector - nope, no room for such in a very small cast Important picture - yes, a painting of one “Sir A Hamilton” from 1708… Woman takes bath or shower - nope Blackmail - not as such Gay/lesbian character - a couple Important memory - yes, in that the main character suddenly remembers a rumoured family event that would be burned in any normal person’s psyche Random scene in Italian - yes, five, believe it or not Ooh ooh music - not a trace Death by razor - nay Childhood trauma - gonna say no Killer’s footsteps - again, not that kind of fillum So I count 13, a respectable score for a film that isn’t 100% giallo. I’ll leave you with an example of the somewhat dodgy script. Maybe it reads better in the original Italian … “When they opened the doors, they were all dead” “What do you mean, ‘dead’, Patrick?”
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Goofy police inspector - nope, no room for such in a very small cast Has anyone come across a "goofy" police inspector yet? Why is this one of the bingo points?
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Goofy police inspector - nope, no room for such in a very small cast Has anyone come across a "goofy" police inspector yet? Why is this one of the bingo points? Lance Percival was a complete tit in the weekend murders. So far he's the only one I've seen.
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Posted: |
Nov 24, 2022 - 11:24 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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Smile Before Death aka Smile of the Hyena (Silvio Amado, 1972) A schoolgirl comes home following the apparent suicide of her mother and becomes entangled in the love lives of her stepfather and his lover. A good story with some huge twists and much more sex than violence. The actress playing the schoolgirl was 20, thankfully, rather than the character’s 16 or 17. No police so no goofy inspector! Funky music - yes, by Roberto Predagio, calling himself Bob Deramont on this occasion Twist ending - very much so Witness of Murder - not by any characters Striptease - not in the true sense of the phrase Killer’s POV - nope Man slaps woman - no Overloud or inappropriate music - yes, albeit insanely catchy Outrageous title - yes in Italian and its direct translation, another cash-in on Argento’s animal titles J&B bottle - yes but from the back, so not overt; it’s clearly J&B though Naked woman - yes, when one of the characters is a photographer it’s inevitable Death by stabbing - almost but the finishing touch was administered by an ashtray so not quite Red herring - twists do not in themselves red herrings make Black gloved killer - the identity of the killer becomes apparent early for a giallo, so no need Goofy police inspector - no, as previously indicated Important picture - lots of them, but no especially crucial ones Woman takes bath or shower - yes, but the moist aspect is offscreen Blackmail - yes Gay/lesbian character - yes, to her surprise Important memory - no Random scene in Italian - no Ooh ooh music - yes, performed by the unique Edda Death by razor - no Childhood trauma - no Killer’s footsteps - yes but not in the conventional giallic way So 11 GB points for this likeable, non-too-gory and twisty-turny thriller.
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the moist aspect So, that's what you called it
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Vestito per Uccidere (1980) Slick entry, with some location shooting in NYC, at the time attacked for extreme gore and general misogyny, neither of which charge holds up too much now- more Hitchcock homage than usual while picking away at Crystal Plumage leftovers- Memorable melodrama score (from composer of Non Guardare Adesso) funkless,no overloud/inappropriate stuff, a couple subtle “Ooh ooh” refrains though. And the rest… Twist ending-Yes. Witness to murder-Yes. Striptease-Yes. Killer’s POV-Yes. Man slaps woman-No. Outrageous title- a meta pun, so Yes? J&B-nope. Naked woman-a couple of them,Yes. Death by stabbing-actually slashing,No. Red herring- you could argue the last ten minutes of the film itself is,Yes. Black gloves-Yes. Goofy inspector-underachieving wiseass,comedy relief with (I think) intentionally comical disco wardrobe,I’m saying yes. Important picture-amateur surveillance yields photo clue,Yes. Woman showers-a couple of moist ones,Yes. Blackmail-No. Gays-some gender bending,but strictly speaking No. Important memory-a lost object remembered leads woman into the killer’s hands,Yes. Scene in Italian-No. Death by razor-Yes. Childhood trauma-don’t think so,No. Killer’s footsteps-Yes.0 Respectable 15 points.
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