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The Case of the Bloody Iris [1972]
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Carry on Slashing
Review date: 2008-03-19 Rating: 4 out of 10
Imagine, if you will, an episode of Murder She Wrote with added nipples. That pretty much describes The Case of the Bloody Iris (as in flower). The characters are paper thin and the actors (genre stalwarts most of them) appear to have been bought-in wholesale from the MFI school of acting.
On her way to a secret assignation with a mysterious someone, a young woman is murdered in the lift of an apartment complex by an assailant with a black leather fetish. Soon after, another woman is killed in an apartment in the same building, which is then occupied by model Jennifer (Edwige Fenech) and her model chum ... and then the screaming/howling starts depending on your point of view. The plot is negligible really and serves as little more than brief respite between scenes in which Fenech has her blouse ripped off. The attitudes on display toward race, sexuality and gender very much tick that box marked "of their time". In fact, if ever assistance were needed in bringing to bear the charge of misogyny often levelled at the much-maligned Italian Thriller genre, the prosecution need look no further than the scene in which Fenech, confronted by her estranged ex-husband in her apartment, is knocked to the floor then told "You're an object and you're mine!". Before having her blouse ripped off.
The killings themselves are actually quite inventive, with the opening lift scenario and a later one which occurs in bright daylight in a crowded shopping arcade particularly audacious, but the handling is very much by-the-numbers and they are too quickly out of the way. In more assured hands (De Palma's say) they could have been the film's saving grace. Overall there is a distinct lack of tension, no real sense of danger and little that surprises. The identity of the killer is easily deduced by default as there are only three possibles and one of those is despatched half way in. Poor old Fenech (who could give lessons in eye-acting) spends most of her hard-earned running around and falling over like a Dr Who assistant on crack, and you'll probably while away most of the film noticing how much she resembles an attractive Martine McCutcheon. The film also loses points for bringing us, in the shape of Jennifer's bubble-headed roommate and the wholly unfunny ineptitude of the junior police officer, two of the most irritating characters in the genre. On the plus side it has a terrific signature theme - like a Saint Etienne instrumental co-written with John Barry.
The transfer from Blue Underground is as adequate as we've come to expect - serviceably sharp and the colours are bright enough, though there is one scene when Jennifer is leaving her apartment at night where it looks like she's walking through a cloud of bluebottles. The Americanised dubbing, like an extended episode of Badly Dubbed Porn with all the jokes removed, is appaaaaalling, though a few doozies have emerged during translation, not least of which is the moment Jennifer, in defence of her lover (the dapper George Hilton), throws herself on the mercy of the caveman leading the investigation with a plea of "No I'm sure he's not mental, and besides he had no reason to murder Marilyn!". There's also a great moment where she receives a faceful of vitriol from an elderly neighbour who sets a record for the number of times the word "whore" can be used without pausing for breath.
If you've only experienced the high end of the giallo genre (Blood and Black Lace, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, What Have You Done to Solange?) then this one is probably not for you. Because it's silly. In all fairness, it had no aspirations to be anything but. Coming from the frenzied height of the giallo era in Italy it wears its production-line credentials loudly. If you're into this particular sub-genre of the sub-genre or simply looking for something to guffaw over post-pub while you count the cost of that last kebab, this is trash of the highest order (though there's more gore to be had in an average episode of Taggart and is only titillating in the way some might find a Benny Hill sketch titillating). As its appeal is limited to a certain corner of fandom it makes rating this sort of thing a bit tricky. In all good conscience I suppose I'll have to base it on whether I'm ever likely to voluntarily watch it again without first troubling the local kebab house.
Great cover anyway.
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Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Annabella Incontrera
Georges Rigaud
George Hilton
Giampiero Albertini
Edwige Fenech
Creators:
Edwige Fenech (Primary Contributor)
George Hilton (Primary Contributor)
Stelvio Massi (Cinematographer)
Bruno Nicolai (Composer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Blue Underground/Ryko Distribution
Manufacturer: Blue Underground/Ryko Distribution
EAN: 0827058113496
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, PAL,
Release date: 2008-02-26
Universal product code (UPC): 827058113496
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Running time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1972
Language: English (Original Language)