L'assassino è costretto ad uccidere ancora

Luigi Cozzi's "L'Assassino è costretto ad uccidere ancora" aka. "The Killer Must Kill Again" of 1975 is a Giallo that is highly unconventional, but nonetheless great. The film is unconventional, as it basically turns the entire premise of the Giallo sub-genre upside down. The main idea behind the conventional Gialli is that a phantom killer, often wearing black gloves, murders his victims, often beautiful ladies, without the viewer knowing his identity. While guessing who the murderer might be is one of the main points of a typical Giallo, however, the killer's identity is clear from the very beginning of "The Killer Must Kill Again" - And the film therefore has an entirely different structure than most conventional Gialli.

The adulterous businessman Giorgio Mainardi (George Hilton) catches a serial killer (Antoine Saint-John, credited here as Michel Antoine) red-handed, depositing of a girl's body. The ripper and the adulterer then make a deal for the killer to get rid of Mainardi's rich wife for him. In exchange Mainardi will keep silent, and furthermore pay the killer a fair amount of money for his efforts... Regular Giallo leading-man George Hilton once again delivers a solid performance, but the true star of this film is Michel Antoine. Antoine looks incredibly creepy, and it immediately becomes clear why the killer's identity is not kept a secret in this unusual Giallo-gem - Had the killer's face been hidden, the film couldn't have profited from Antoines's weird looks. Antoine plays the role of the killer with a unique laid-back sadism, and the film furthermore has many other qualities to offer. Beautiful Christine Galbo (who is best known for Massimo Dallamano's Giallo-masterpiece "Cosa Avete Fatto A Solange", as well as the Zombie extravaganza "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie") is also part of the film, and she once again delivers a good performance. The film is certainly violent, but not quite as gory as some other contemporary Gialli (such as Dario Argento's masterpiece "Profondo Rosso" from the same year). That does not mean, however, that the film hasn't got a genuine nastiness. What makes this especially nasty is the vileness and unscrupulousness of the characters. The camera work is also great, and the film has several nice stylistic elements. Furthermore, the film has a cool score, which, once again, isn't typically Giallo-ish, but often seems more like one of the Hitchcockian scores. Overall, "The Killer Must Kill Again" is a Giallo that is definitely highly unusual for this great sub-genre, but it is also a very good one. This is one out of only two films directed by Luigi Cozzi I have seen so far (the other being the dreadful "Paganini Horror"), but after this highly original Horror experience it certainly won't be the last. Highly recommended to all my fellow Italian Horror Buffs!

This is a very well-done thriller. A bit bloodier and nastier than Hitchcock's work, but very close in tone and production value. In fact, the editing was very precise, apparently tightly storyboarded, which was Hitchcock's method.

The locations are few but perfect. The "ugly yellow house" described in another review was actually very cool; the yellow walls appear to be painted with expensive Dutch enamel. Typical bold and imaginative Italian design.

The costumes are subtle, simple, but equally effective. Cristina Galdo in her soft jeans and innocent blouse is an incredibly alluring and convincing virgin. Michel Antoine, the killer, is tall and angular, with a James Woodsian countenance, cool and sinister in chic black pants and turtleneck.

The DVD is nicely done. Great sound and picture, and extras worth checking out.

If you like thrillers, definitely go for this one. Even if you have a hard time with foreign films, you will find this one palatable, with very smooth dubbing, an attractive and capable cast, and a solid, unpredictable storyline, delivered by a master director.

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.

The Killer must Kill again sounds like a title suited for your typical giallo.And it does start out as one. Soon it becomes clear that even cold blooded killers can have bad days. There are numerous moments that play out like you would see in comedies.The straight faced kind, which makes it even hilarious at times.I personally was not expecting this and found it refreshing.But the director made sure not to sympathize with the culprit too much since he continually shows evil when he feels when it is needed. This provides an unique way in building suspense since you never really know when the killer shows that nasty side and when he remains professional.Antoine Saint-John (as the killer) looks like Death personified.Easily the best character in the movie next to Alessio Orano's character named Luca who has to be the most laid back and patient of guys in movie history. He is trying to have sex with his girl and she keeps putting him off and delaying it to the point that she convinces him to fetch food.Luca doesn't mind and goes on his way. How laid back the guy is we get to witness in the scenes after with a sexy blonde in some sleazy scenes (full frontal nudity).The contrast between those scenes and the ones with Laura (Luca's girl) which I won't describe was quite disturbing and shocking even. It's this mix of moments that keeps you glued to the screen. Very different from most giallo's but in a good way.

I am happy to report that Spanish-born actress Cristina Galbo is now a very solid 3 for 3 with me. She was excellent as the doomed student in the 1971 giallo "What Have You Done To Solange?" and ever so appealing in the 1974 zombie gut-muncher "Let Sleeping Corpses Lie." And now, here she is again in "The Killer Must Kill Again," giving another fine performance in this 1975 Italian suspense thriller. This film tells a simple story, really. A husband (played by hunky giallo regular George Hilton) hires a homicidal maniac to do away with his wife. The deed accomplished, the killer (played by the creepy-looking Michel Antoine) stuffs the body into the trunk of his car, only to have it stolen by a pair of teenaged joyriders (one of whom is our Cristina). This, of course, sends the dumbfounded madman off in hot pursuit.... Anyway, although this picture offers no real surprises (unlike most gialli, we already know the killer's identity, as well as his motivations), there is a great deal of suspense generated somehow, as we suspect that when Antoine eventually does catch up with Galbo and her beau, the spam really will hit the fan. And it does indeed, in spades! The film features competent but fairly undistinguished direction by Luigi Cozzi (flashy only in a couple of sex/rape scenes) and ominous music by Nando de Luca. It is a very straightforward little film, actually, that gives the viewer precisely what is expected. Even Hilton's fate is kind of foreseeable. Still, I did enjoy watching the film go through its paces, and Cristina Galbo's exquisite presence makes it go down all the easier. I think I'm ready now to sign up for her modern-day flamenco classes in California!