11 December 2024
The Slasher (1972)
100 min.
Directed by Roberto Bianchi Montero.
With Farley Granger, Sylva Koscina, Annabella Incontrera, Chris Avram, Krista Nell, Cristea Avram, Femi Benussi, Fabrizio Moresco, Silvano Tranquilli, Andrea Scotti.
Good Italian giallo from director Roberto Montero.

In a small Italian town, a black gloved killer (would we have it any other way?) photographs upper crust adulterous wives in the throes of passion with their lovers - and then kills them in various gruesome ways.

The maniac then leaves the lurid snapshots next to the lifeless bodies of his victims.

Hitchcock star Granger (from Strangers on a Train and Rope) plays Inspector Capuana, the detective assigned to investigate the trail of murders...a grabbag of clues which ultimately lead right to his front door!

A simple plot and good pacing elevate this one to the status of a fun watch. Although there are moments where Granger appears uneasy and out of place appearing in such sleazy fare, there's enough gory stabbings & slashings you won't care about poor Farley's career choice.

There's also a nice score by Giorgio Gaslini, who did the music for Dario Argento's 1973 television show Door Into Darkness.

Also known either as The Slasher is the Sex Maniac or as So Sweet, So Dead. And released in an uncut, soft porn version known as Penetration.

Italian: Rivelazioni di un maniaco sessuale al capo della squadra mobile.

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