La casa del buon ritorno

LA CASA... is a genuinely eerie mood piece. It's cousins with House with the Laughing Windows and Perfume of a Lady in Black-- looser gialli that don't necessarily have black gloved killers or high body counts. I'm still lost as to why we refer to these as gialli; perhaps the mystery?

Anyone who has seen both of those above, or similar gialli, will not doubt figure out the trajectory of the film. However, it's all so masterly done, you end up watching it for the experience, the atmosphere, the images. Everything is ominous in the film, and even made more so by the directors excellent use of cross fades.

Oh. But unfortunately. Unfortunately our protagonist is awful. He is incredibly handsome, he's sexy, I wouldn't kick him out of bed. But he's an awful actor. This is the huge difference between this film, and Perfume of a Lady in Black. There is no emotional connection with the protagonist-- he is no Mimsy Farmer, nor Jorge Rivero from Evil Eye, another similar film.

Ultimately, LA CASA... is a beautiful film, that lacks much of a connection with the viewer, but is does what it does so well (to entice, mystify) that I recommend it.