L'assassino è costretto ad uccidere ancora

Luigi Cozzi was assistant director on Dario Argento's Four Flies on Grey Velvet, so he had a bit of experience working on a thriller. The Killer Must Kill Again is the first time he got a chance to direct one for himself.

The story begins with a man witnessing a mysterious killer disposing of a body by a river. Instead of reporting him to the police, he blackmails him into murdering his wife so that he can cash in the insurance. All goes to plan until a couple of joy riders steal the car where the wife's body is stashed. The killer then pursues these unfortunate delinquents who know nothing of the hidden body.

This one benefits from a good cast. Giallo regular George Hilton plays the husband and he is once again convincing as a very shady character. Alessio Orano (Lisa and the Devil) impresses as one of the joy riders. But best of all is Antoine Saint-John as 'the killer'. He is very intense and is impressively creepy in this role. The very fact that, unlike regular gialli, the killer's identity is known from the start is an active advantage here as Saint-John's sinister look could not have been exploited if the murderer was a mystery presence. In fairness, the very fact that there is no mystery in this film at all makes me question if it truly is a giallo in the first place. My feeling is that it isn't, although it shares many of the conventions of the genre such as a cast of unsympathetic characters, brutal violence - including a somewhat unpleasant rape scene - and a stylish look - check out Hilton's yellow pad.

Because of the lack of a mystery this one has to depend on other things to keep it interesting. It isn't always successful though and the story does lack a bit of excitement at times. There is a decent set up developed at the beginning and there is some effective tension towards the end but it does meander a bit in the middle. Still, it's well made and acted and is certainly a solid film overall.

Most giallos are scarlet whodunits's, but Luigi Cozzi reveals his killer (Antoine Saint-John) two minutes in and directs our attention to a business relationship struck between the killer and a sleazy ladies' man (George Hilton).

Despite breaking a golden rule of the genre, "The Killer Must Kill Again" is a fresh, kinetic thriller with uneven performances (the women), terrific cinematography and striking set pieces.

Antoine Saint-John is positively electric as the arrogant psychopath and rivets our attention to the screen.

For a change, the storyline is relatively linear and free of the usual clutter. The violence is bloody and smoothly directed, and Cozzi demonstrates a real flair for atmosphere.

Certainly not as operatic as an Argento or as sleazy as a Polselli, it is, nevertheless, compelling celluloid and a million miles away from inept Cozzi trash such as "Star Crash" and "Contamination".

A tense and thrilling Giallo co-produced by Italy/Spain/France including ordinary grisly killings with a lot of twists and turns. This ' Gialli' getting certain success , being compellingly shot, including well staged crimes with full of enjoyable visual content , twists and turns . This is the usual Gialli where intrigue , tension , suspense , stabbing and chases show up lurking and threatening through apartment, seaside house, cars and grim interiors. The film combines atmospheric blending of thrills , chills , nudism and suspenseful final. Giorgio (George Hilton) is an ambitious adulterer who makes a deal with a serial killer to dispose of his wealthy wife, Nora (Tere Velazquez) . Unfortunately, a thrill-seeking young couple (Beatriz Galbó, Alessio Orano) become involved into a twisted criminal plot when they rob the killer's (Antoine Saint-John) car with Nora's corpse in the trunk , ending up at a run-down seaside house. Slowly some people are found dead and while an obstinate police inspector (Eduardo Fajardo) investigates the strange missing wife with numerous suspects

The film packs suspense, terror, effective aesthetic, plot twists , intrigue and being a very exciting terror-thriller. The rather perplexing tale weavers so many red herrings when ultimately the murderer is caught . The movie is made up of a series of Giallo horror set pieces that are shot in eye-poping style and ordinarily getting hints to solve the crimes until a surprising final twist. Director builds intrigue, suspense and tension beautifully with rich atmosphere and driving attractive musical score. Stars George Hilton who gives an acceptable acting as the greedy husband . Hilton starred a lot of Spaghetti/Chorizo Westerns, such as: ¨I Due Figli Di Ringo¨, ¨Un poker Di Pistole¨, ¨The gold professionals¨, ¨Sartana¨ , "Professionals for a Massacre" and many others ; though also performed a great number of Giallos as ¨All the Colors of dark¨ , ¨The perverse Mrs Ward¨ and ¨Scorpion tale¨. While Tere Velazquez performs his beautiful wife, being accompanied by a fine support cast. But is Antoine Saint-John or Michel Antoine who steals the show as the creepy and heinous serial killer. Here stands out the affectionate appearances from charming Eurotrash goddesses , such as : Femi Benussi , Cristina Galbó, Carla Mancini and brief acting by Sydne Rome as first victim. And being a Italian/Spanish/French coproduction , appearing here and there Italian actors : Femi Benussi, Alessio Orano and Spanish : Beatriz Galbó, Eduardo Fajardo, Tere Velázquez ; and French : Antoine Saint-John.

Nice ambiance and evocative settings, enhanced by the well photographed in Icet de Paolis, Milano, Lombardo, Italy , carried out by a good cameraman, Riccardo Pallottini. As well as intriguing and suspenseful musical score by Nando De Luca. The motion picture was decently directed by Luigi Cozzi or Lewis Coates providing startling visual content and tension enough. This Italian filmmaker is a craftsman who has directed some flicks with penchant for Sci-Fi, Horror , Giallo , adventure and fantasy, such as : ¨Hercules¨,¨The adventures of Hercules II¨ , ¨Escape from Galaxy 3¨, ¨Sinbad of the Seven Seas¨, ¨Nosferatu in Venice¨, ¨Paganini Horror¨, ¨Tunnel under the World¨, ¨The killer must strike again¨. His biggest hit was Star Crash¨ and he was attached to direct ¨Lifeforce¨ at one stage . Rating : 6/10 .

I loved this movie. First and foremost, in my opinion, this is NOT a giallo. I'd classify it more as a crime/thriller...or even a drama or a black comedy.

You know who the killer is from the beginning, so there isn't much mystery to it...but unlike many other 'similar movies' there is a double dose of tension and suspense which genuinely gets under your skin.

Masterfully directed by Luigi Cozzi ("Contamination"). I was impressed with the guy who plays the killer, I thought he was superb and creepy, and even though we get up close and personal with him, he remains creepy until the end.

Necessary viewing for lovers of Italian horror.

8 out of 10, kids.

This is a fine example of the giallo genre. It contains everything you would expect from an Italian horror film like this: Interesting characters, convoluted plot, brutal violence and a fair amount of suspense. The plot, too, is great and is worthy of ol' Hitchcock himself. It begins when giallo regular George Hilton catches a killer in the act of disposing a body. George then blackmails the killer into murdering his wife, all of which goes smoothly. However, the twist comes when a couple of freewheeling kids steal the killer's car with the wife's body in the trunk. The killer chases the kids to the beach and then the bloody fun starts.

As mentioned before, the plot and the many twists it takes, makes this giallo entry a standout in the genre. Then there is the great and creepy performance by Michael Antoine as the mysterious killer ( why was this guy only in two movies?). Most gialli have an unidentified, faceless killer with a secret plan as their antagonist but this movie does just the opposite and benefits from it. The only thing that bothered me about this film was the hideously ugly house George Hilton and his wife lived in, which seemed to made entirely out of yellow plastic. Oh well, I can forgive it because, afterall, the movie, like most gialli, was made in the seventies. Overall, a highly recommended giallo that has everything you could want from this type of movie and more.