Italian horror in the 1960s and 70s went through several popular tonal and thematic phases. From gothic thrillers in the early to mid-60s, psychedelia and monster mayhem in the late 60s and early 70s, and of course, all manner of gialli and other assorted murder thrillers. But what of those films that offer a form of narrative bait and switch, luring the viewer in with the pretense of one genre while slowly revealing themselves to be something else entirely? Presented here are a trio of 70s Italian horror features which play with, combine, subvert, and surprise with their genre leanings, all newly and exclusively restored from their 35mm original negatives and all presented on English-friendly home video for the very first time, from Vinegar Syndrome.
In director Giulio Petronis OBSCENE DESIRE (Losceno desiderio), a young American woman, Amanda, moves to a large and creepy countryside villa with her newlywed Italian husband. Soon enough, strange and seemingly supernatural events begin to befall the property, as a black-gloved killer simultaneously picks up and murders prostitutes. What do these otherworldly occurrences and the vicious killings have in common? And what sinister plans have been hatched for Amanda? A truly genre-defying shocker combining elements of giallo, satanic horror, and very raunchy sexploitation, Petronis film is one of the most head-scratching Italian horror films of the late 1970s and has been restored, as best as possible, to its never-released original directors cut.
In director Riccardo Ghiones THE BLOODSTAINED LAWN (Il prato macchiato di rosso), a group of hippie drifters find their way to the luxury and ultra-modern country home of Dr. Antonio and his wife, Nina Genovese. While the seemingly charming couples offer to let the aimless youngsters hang out at their property appears initially motivated by the couples fascination with the lifestyles of the free love generation, when members of the group begin vanishing, it becomes clear that something much more sinister and deadly is afoot. Taking a cue from jet-set thrillers of the late 1960s, this horror rarity evolves into a high-concept science-fiction nightmare.
In director Leopoldo Savonas DEATH FALLS LIGHTLY (La morte scende leggera), wealthy businessman Giorgio Daricas wife is murdered by an unknown assailant. Fearing that he will be fingered as the prime suspect, due to their failing marriage and his well-known philandering, his advisors suggest that he go into hiding at a shuttered hotel until the police can investigate more thoroughly. Taking along his mistress, Giorgio assumes hell be in for a secret romantic getaway, but is soon besieged by supernatural visions which seem to be drawing him into the hotels own dark and murderous past, threatening to drive him mad. Strangely similar to, but predating, The Shining, this wholly unpredictable thriller is further complemented by a throbbing prog rock score by Lallo Gori.
