Not that it matters to anyone, but I only intended to watch the first five minutes of this to assess the picture quality in what is a pretty rare film. 90 minutes later, and I've only just finished this excellent thriller/horror/gothic/arty/giallo project starring the mighty Erika Blanc (from 'The Devil's Nightmare' and so many other films) and sweepingly directed by Sauro Scavolini (who also co-wrote).
The picture quality is excellent, in case you were wondering.
The pacing is refreshingly eccentric. We have two story strands, both of which are in no hurry to deliver anything other than atmospheric and moody reflections and (occasionally hallucinogenic) reminiscences. It isn't until about two thirds into the story that the pace intensifies and we move out of desolate melancholy and into more traditional gialli territory.
I have no complaints about this approach, although the ponderous narrative will not appeal to everyone. The attention to visual detail and breath-taking locations are more than enough to arrest the attention for the most part, and the acting is natural and restrained.
The revelations toward the ending are satisfyingly sordid and there are at last moments of gore, proving that, despite the beautiful cinematography, events are just as gloomy as we would wish them to be.
The picture quality is excellent, in case you were wondering.
The pacing is refreshingly eccentric. We have two story strands, both of which are in no hurry to deliver anything other than atmospheric and moody reflections and (occasionally hallucinogenic) reminiscences. It isn't until about two thirds into the story that the pace intensifies and we move out of desolate melancholy and into more traditional gialli territory.
I have no complaints about this approach, although the ponderous narrative will not appeal to everyone. The attention to visual detail and breath-taking locations are more than enough to arrest the attention for the most part, and the acting is natural and restrained.
The revelations toward the ending are satisfyingly sordid and there are at last moments of gore, proving that, despite the beautiful cinematography, events are just as gloomy as we would wish them to be.