Naschy movie with usual elements of the ¨Gialli¨ sub-genre : suspenseful intrigue , twisted killings executed by a black gloved killer , violence , sadism , physical abuse , sensationalist murder pieces , though doesn't pack nudity . A series of murders are happening in Berlin , during World War II seem connected to a string of present-day murders committed . A wealthy art gallerist , single , called Boris (Paul Naschy or Jacinto Molina) is drawn into a twisted criminal case via his journalist sweetheart (Patricia Moran) , who along with help of other reporters believe they can bring down the killer without the police . Meanwhile , the police commissioner and his agents are investigating the heinous crimes , and the prme suspects are three of the journalists
This is a giallo with usual ingredients as chills , thrills , suspense and grisly killings committed by a masked assassin clad in black . Here Paul Naschy is a rich artist who helps his girlfriend to discover who is the heinous murderer resulting in fateful consecuences . Filmmaker Jose Luis Madrid designs a mediocre thriller , including some regularly staged murders plenty of startling visual content with blood and gore , though was submitted to limited censorship in Spain.
Freely based on Doctor Petiots life , the real deeds happened of the following way : Petiot's neighbors in Rue Le Sueur complained to police about a foul stench in the area and large amounts of smoke billowing from a chimney of the house. Firemenentered the house and found a roaring fire in a coal stove in the basement. In the fire, and scattered in the basement, were human remains. They found in his basement, human remains were also found in a quicklime pit in the back yard and in a canvas bag. In his home, enough body parts were found to account for at least ten victims. Also scattered throughout his property were suitcases, clothing, and assorted property of his victims. He escaped , Petiot hid with friends, claiming that the Gestapo wanted him because he had killed Germans and informers. He eventually moved in with a patient, let his beard grow, and adopted various aliases.During the liberation of Paris in 1944, Petiot adopted the name "Henri Valeri" and joined the French Forces of the Interior in the uprising. He became a captain in charge of counterespionage and prisoner interrogations.When the newspaper Resistance published an article about Petiot, his defense attorney from the 1942 narcotics case received a letter in which his fugitive client claimed that the published allegations were mere lies. This gave police a hint that Petiot was still in Paris. Petiot was recognized , and arrested.He claimed that he was innocent and that he had killed only enemies of France. He said that he had discovered the pile of bodies in 21 Rue le Sueur in February 1944, but had assumed that they were collaborators killed by members of his Resistance "network".But the police found that Petiot had no friends in any of the major Resistance groups. Some of the Resistance groups he spoke of had never existed, and there was no proof of any of his claimed exploits. Prosecutors eventually charged him with at least 27 murders for profit. Their estimate of his gains ran to 200 million francs.Petiot went on trial facing 135 criminal charges. Petiot taunted the prosecuting lawyers, and claimed that various victims had been collaborators or double agents, or that vanished people were alive and well in South America under new names. He admitted to killing just 19 of the 27 victims found in his house, and claimed that they were Germans and collaborators - part of a total of 63 "enemies" killed. His lawyer attempted to portray Petiot as a Resistance hero, but the judges and jurors were unimpressed . Petiot was convicted of 26 counts of murder, and sentenced to death and Petiot was beheaded.
