The Bloodstained Shadow

Not unlike the previous years offering from the same director, Watch Me When I Kill, this giallo is somewhat different from the usual genre fare and despite being as complicated as his other and once more with a red herring on every corner and not the bloodiest of kills, this is most enjoyable. The added benefit here is the Venice setting and not the chocolate box, pretty, pretty Venice but the more realistic representation with dark narrow alleyways, cold mist rising from the dark waters and gloomy buildings in various states of decay. There are even more scenes set in the evocative, off the beaten track, Murano. But no delicate glass blowing to be seen, more the back gardens, back alleys and backwaters, all adding to the gloom of this evocative and fascinating picture.

Nothing more than an honest italian giallo, this movie tells the torbid story of a string of murders in a small town in the Venice laguna. A young mathematician will find the answer to one of his early nightmares, but he will not like the taste of it. A good music and a good atmosphere don't totally hide a lacking script (a few of the acts of the murderer are without a real, logical explanation), but this is the norm in several of more routinely italian gialli.

Stefano (Lino Capolicchio) goes to Venice to visit his brother--priest Don Paolo (Craig Hill). While there certain people are being murdered for no rhyme or reason. Also Don Paolo is getting letters threatening his life.

Plot wise there's nothing new here. You've seen these characters (and situations) in giallos of the past. Also Capolicchio and Stefania Casini (playing his blank girlfriend Sandra) are pretty terrible actors. We're supposed to identify with them but they don't come across at all. And, of course, there's the obligatory pointless sex scene and a long trip through the canals that leads to nothing. Still this works. The cinematography here is just great--virtually every shot here takes your breath away. Hill is very good as Don Paolo--more of him could only have helped the movie. There's also a great score by the group Goblin--almost as good as the one for "Suspiria". The ending is effective too. So--it's no great shakes but you could do worse. See a wide screen print. I give it a 7.

"The Bloodstained Shadow" is a film that requires patience. Had I not seen several giallos already, I might have fallen asleep in parts of this one. That being said, for giallo fans, this one is a worthy addition to your collection.

It starts out with a professor going back to his hometown, a small Italian island, and reuniting with his brother, a priest. The two become entangled in a web of murder and deception and it is somehow linked to the murder of a young girl year earlier. The setting is remarkable, the music is great and the acting is over par.

Then, we have the 'required' giallo elements. A love story. A suspect. Two suspects. Red herrings. Vague clues. Flashbacks. It gets a little ridiculous. By the time we find out who the killer is, (the first person I guessed,) we're a little worn out. There is a cheap shot which I cannot reveal because I'd give away the movie, but lets just say it's not fair to the viewer.

All being said, a really good ambiance and awesome setting give this film some merit. I'd recommend it to a hardcore giallo fan.

PS: now we know where the Blue Underground theme song comes from.

6 out of 10, kids.

Sounds a bit strange that Antonio Bido just had few movies as director until now, this second entry on Giallo where he co-wrote and directed, however was his final movie in this specific genre, here he brings a holy figure of the Church, a Priest Don Paolo (Craig Hill) when arrives nearby Venice his young brother Stefano (Lino Capolicchio) a professor stressed by strange visions of the past over an unsolved murder of a girl, Lino has an occasional meeting at train's cabin with Sandra (The eye candy Stefania Casini), Lino was received warmly by Don Paolo, implying a true fraternal feelings, the Priest introduces to Lino his worries over weird facts in the little community, about a small group consisting by a Medium, a Doctor, a Middle age woman and a decaying drunkard Count, soon starts other crimes, even linked on those small group pointed out by Don Paolo, wisely the Director puts countless clues trying deceives the viewer, also Bido exposes on slight portions two sensitive matter which the Church faces nowadays, one woman complains to the Priest that his boy has been abused by the Count Pedrazzi (Massimo Serato) on his confession, indeed the rotten Count probable did such backbiting, due it was widely clear on his odd behavior with your butler, further he presents the Priest as all we know recognize as an unambiguous character, good movie!!

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First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7