Murder Obsession (1981)
Riccardo Freda's intriguing giallo is a mish mash of ideas and genres. From knife wielding giallo mystery to full blown Gothic horror, Murder Obsession is something of a delight.
Playing out something akin to Poe or even Agatha Christie once the cast are assembled at an old Gothic mansion, home to Anita Strindberg and her butler.
Freda adds some bizarre hallucinatory imagery to proceedings, including Silvia Dionisio stripped and knifed on a cross and most memorably having her run through a weird, creepy, woodland where the branches tear at her clothes and flesh, leaving her naked and screaming. Of course Riccardo Freda is no stranger to Gothic films having directed I' Vampiri, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock and The Ghost, therefore his set pieces are a highlight of the movie.
The giallo elements are strong, with the black gloved killer on the prowl throughout, especially when drowning Laura Gemser in the bath or indeed cutting her open in the woods (obviously she wasn't actually drowned though). The film also sports some incestuous overtones between Strindberg and her son, Michael, as played by Stefano Patrizi. In fact it's the mother / son relationship that is key to the whole film.
At times the gorgeous Strindberg seems miscast. At 43 she is only 12 years older than Patrizi in real life, and never seems like the ailing matriarch she is supposedly playing. Despite this possible miscasting she is easily the best thing about the film, her character being sly and manipulative as well as incredibly sexy. In fact with her, Gemser and Dionisio on frequent show the film is never short of eye candy.
Gory and sleazy, Murder Obsession is a fine example of a later giallo thriller.
The print used by Raro for their region 1 dvd is quite beautiful to look at.
Recommended.
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