My Dear Killer

My Dear Killer

Genre: Giallo, Horror

Original title: Mio caro assassino

AKA: Time To Kill, Darling

Director: Tonino Valerii

Year: 1972

A mysterious decapitation leads Inspector Peretti into a case of blackmail, deceit and the unsolved kidnapping of a young girl.

My Dear Killer directed by Tonino Valerii (best known for being the screenwriter & assistant director on A Fistful Of Dollars) is decent yet hugely disappointing Giallo from the genre's peak period. 

The film starts off well with one of the most imaginative kills I've ever seen with a really well shot decapitation by way of a giant crane! There's also a spectacularly gory killing of a schoolteacher by way of a power-drill which is fantastic in its execution. Unfortunately in terms of blood & thrills theres barely anything else worth mentioning. 

Gialli superstar George Hilton is the lead here, what should of been more appropriately titled George Hilton Investigates as a good 90% of the film is exactly that. Hilton tries to pull the pieces together to find a missing school girl whilst each time he gets nearer a witness is taken out. He'd give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money with his clue solving. Some of this is entertaining however, there's just so fucking much of it! Questioning, investigating, plot, plot, plot, it never lets up. Even the final 10 minutes is anticlimactic with Hilton revealing the ridiculous plot in a room full of suspects until he reveals the killer & the film ends

. 

Ennio Morricone provided the score although my must say it's not one of his more memorable ones. It works best in tension filled scenes with a jarring type of quality but unfortunately there's not enough moments in the film for the score to blossom like it perhaps should have. 

This review probably sounds like I disliked the film, I didn't. There are some really great moments in here, Hilton is never dull despite his characters constant questioning & despite there only been limited kills the ones we get are incredibly memorable. 

My Dear Killer had many of the elements needed for a great Giallo in place however it didn't hit the sweet spot nearly as often as it should of.

Rating: ★★★

George Hilton Investigates, again & again & again.

The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh

The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh

Genre: Giallo, Erotic Thriller

Original Title: Lo strano vizio della signora Wardh

AKA: The Next Victim! / Blade of the Ripper

Director: Sergio Martino 

Year: 1971

An ambassador's wife discovers that one of the men in her life - either her husband, an ex-lover or her current lover - may be a vicious serial killer.

This Sergio Martino picture goes by many different names, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh. Blade of the Ripper, Next! & The Next Victim. This is Martino's first Gialli & is fine first attempt that combines all the classic Gialli trademarks & pairs the King & queen of the genre, George Hilton & Edwige Fenech together. 

The director's camera flair is there, the exotic locations, the beautifully shot kills & Fenech's body is constantly on show. For some reason I prefer most of Martino's other Gialli to this, though this is definitely one I want to revisit as I feel a second viewing could benefit my enjoyment of the film.

Rating: ★★★½

The ever creepy Ivan Rassimov.

They Call Me Hallelujah

They Call Me Hallelujah

Original Title: Testa t'ammazzo, croce... sei morto! Mi chiamano Alleluja

AKA: Heads You Die... Tails I Kill You / Deep West

Genre: Spaghetti Western

Director: Giuliano Carnimeo
Year: 1971

A Yankee gunman, Hallelujah, is hired by Mexican Juarista, General Ramirez to confiscate a case of jewels to fund the revolution. For this, Hallelujah will receive a percentage. But other parties are interested in the case and when they turn out to be fakes, it all deteriorates into a cat and mouse style game with Hallelujah, gunrunners, the French, and a Russian outlaw(!) all searching for the real jewels.

George Hilton: Smooth criminal

They Call Me Hallelujah is a indifferent yet entertaining Western with comedic elements. It stars George Hilton who is wonderful as the character named Allelujah. He plays it in the kind of way Harrison Fold plays Indiana Jones, always one step ahead of his enemies using all kinds of inventive ways to get one over people whilst in sticky situations. The violence is light-hearted in fun kind of way & never feels dangerous. The tone of the film suits Hilton's character very well & director Giuliano Carnimeo uses some unusual shots that keep the film visually appealing. Unfortunately the script probably lets the film down a little, there's too many twists & too many characters. A film which certainly would of benefited from a more simplified plot. 

Overall it is a mixed bag, yet the action scenes and Hilton alone are enough to make it worthwhile. Though Giuliano Carnimeo's A Bullet for a Stranger (which came out the same year & tonally is very similar) is probably worth seeking out before this.

Rating: ★★★

All The Colors Of The Dark

All The Colors Of The Dark
Original Title: Tutti i colori del buio
AKA: They're Coming to Get You / Day Of The Maniac / Demons of the Dead

Genre: Giallo

Director: Sergio Martino

Year: 1972

A woman recovering from a car accident in which she lost her unborn child finds herself pursued by a coven of devil worshipers.

Fenech X4, I'd give my left testical for just one of her.

They Are Coming To Get You, Day Of The Maniac, Demons of the Dead & All The Colors Of The Dark are just some of the titles of director Sergio Martino's third Giallo picture goes under. It has an impressive cast with leads from two of the genres most recognisable names in Edwige Fenech & George Hilton & a great supporting cast that includes Susan Scott & Ivan Rassimov. The plot borrows heavily from Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby & has a very confused & paranoid Edwige Fenech get mixed up with a devil worshipping cult. To make matters worse she has Ivan Rassimov (who here sports the bluest eyes you'll ever see) constantly stalking her. If anybody was born to play those type of creepy characters it was him.

Out of Martino's Gialli I'd say this was probably his most ambitious, it relies on the psychological drama instead of the gory kills & for the most part the film delivers. Visually it's a treat, making great use of its London setting. The camera angels used on the main apartment block really helped add a sense of paranoia to Fenech's character. Despite all this, the highlight without a doubt is the amazing Bruno Nicolai score. For my money it's one of the defining scores of the genre with its use of sitars, psychedelic rock, choirs & creepy moments, it really helps create a paranoid atmosphere to the picture & lets the films themes feel that more stronger.

A pretty much essential Giallo which for my money is Martino's second best Gialli just behind the wondeful The Case of the Scorpion's Tail .

 Rating: ★★★★