For the unversed, the Italian giallo (literally ‘yellow’) film could be estimated as the link between the output of the Hammer studio (Horror of Dracula, Curse of Frankenstein) and the slasher films of the late 70s, infusing the ornate imagery of one with the voyeuristic spirit of the other. Like their classier British counterparts, most giallo had some budget to work with, as well as a tendency to emphasize mood and atmosphere over an ability to understand what’s going on, but also an ability to show more blood and cleavage than anything starring Peter Cushing ever did. Murder Obsession, while certainly not the pinnacle of the genre, is as representative an example as any.
In the opening shots of Obsession, actor Michael (Stefano Patrizi) nearly chokes a costar before the director intervenes and yells ‘cut!’ Disturbed, distraught, and compelled by narrative necessity, he retreats for a few days to his family’s estate with his girlfriend Deborah to spend with his mother and spooky butler Oliver. But he finds no solace there; only memories of how he killed his father as a boy in a fit of rage. As an adult, he’s become open about this, but when several of his industry friends come to join him, the murders begin, and he presents the most likely suspect…
Murder Obsession has its flaws (not least of which is a totally ineffectual performance by Patrizi), but all of them seem forgivable when seen through the prism of such an overripe form. It doesn’t take long to see just how the giallo form got its name, as every color is so rich and bright that many of them were thought to have been shot in three-strip Technicolor. Naturally, the sets, dialogue, and immense leaps of logic have to work harder just to keep up, so it’s not surprising that Murder Obsession doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny. It doesn’t need to, and pitches itself comfortably at the middle ground between dumb and melodramatic.
SPECIAL FEATURES
The print's been cleaned up a little, and a few scenes cut from the English language release have been restored (albeit with subtitles; the rest of the film is dubbed). There is a ten minute interview with Sergio Stivaletti, who worked as a special effects assistant on the film
"Murder Obsession" is on sale December 6, 2011 and is not rated. Horror. Directed by Riccardo Freda. Written by Antonio Cesare Corti, Riccardo Freda, Fabio Piccioni. Starring Anita Strindberg, Henri Garcin, John Richardson, Laura Gemser, Martine Brochard, Stefano Patrizi, Sylvia Dionisio.
