Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - zombi69 - 05-26-2008 11:28 AM
One of Riccardo Freda's last efforts, it's certainly not one of his shiniest moments either. The co-founder of Italy's horror scene, directs this very disjointed effort starring Stefano Patrizi, Laura Gemser, John Richardson and Anita Strindberg. I guess in ways this can be considered a giallo, though a very oddball one. I noticed that Raro released this onto DVD, I guess there is still no English optioned DVD out there yet? I had to suffer watching the US pre-record under the title FEAR. Though, not all is lost in this flick! It's a cheesy ult classic of sorts in the way of cast and in the look and feel of the film itself. Though story and plot kind of get lost here and there.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Stephen Grimes - 05-27-2008 07:03 AM
I'm almost sure the Raro dvd comes with an English track and subs,i'll have to check this one out at some point.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - zombi69 - 05-27-2008 07:41 AM
If it does, then all the better..I'm sold!
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - ex-fandessixties - 05-27-2008 12:11 PM
The print used however is apparantly damaged, during one of the murder sequences there seems to be damage to the materials. I heard that the Raro release picture quality isn't too hot either - but I cannot confirm this.
It does have an English track though.
Be aware that there are two versions of this film, with different music - FEAR has a different soundtrack (a horrible bad synthesizer soundtrack) to the export/domestic version of MURDER OBSESSION, which had a piano track that sounds like it should accompanying a silent movie.
Also the original film runs a few minutes longer, has a scene with Stefano Patrizi singing and the black mass sequence in two segments (and the film makes more sense) where as the US release (a.ka. THE WAILING) cobbled the black mass footage together and somewhat disjointed the narrative of the film.
And this was Riccardo Freda's last movie, I really like it (and reviewed it for CN back in the day, I believe)... but Freda dismissed it as shit.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Stephen Grimes - 05-27-2008 03:37 PM
Great bit of info,thanks.
Getting more and more into Freda lately esp. after viewing the Dark Sky disc of TRAGIC CEREMONY a few weeks back,think i'll take the plunge on the Raro dvd on my next order from Italy.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - ex-fandessixties - 05-29-2008 05:25 AM
If you are getting into Freda, and enjoyed TRAGIC CEREMONY, there is a German DVD of THE IGUANA WITH THE TONGUE OF FIRE which has an English track on it. The dvd has been sourced from a VHS, albeit a high quality, uncut and widscreen VHS (perhaps the same release that came out on Shendene e Moizzi a few years ago - as the titles are in Italian) but this another entertaining Freda movie, only seen in English previously on a horribly fullscreen overly panned and scanned Greek release (those were the days  ) with enourmous Greek subtitles.
http://xploitedcinema.com/catalog/iguana-with-tongue-fire-limited-edition-release-p-11136.html
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - zombi69 - 05-29-2008 08:00 AM
If you are getting into Freda, and enjoyed TRAGIC CEREMONY, there is a German DVD of THE IGUANA WITH THE TONGUE OF FIRE which has an English track on it. The dvd has been sourced from a VHS, albeit a high quality, uncut and widscreen VHS (perhaps the same release that came out on Shendene e Moizzi a few years ago - as the titles are in Italian) but this another entertaining Freda movie, only seen in English previously on a horribly fullscreen overly panned and scanned Greek release (those were the days ) with enourmous Greek subtitles.
http://xploitedcinema.com/catalog/iguana-with-tongue-fire-limited-edition-release-p-11136.html
Yep, I would have to second that Kit! It's both and excellent disc and giallo!
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Devin_Kelly - 05-30-2008 09:59 AM
Freda was to have done another film apparently following MURDER OBSESSION (1980) in 1994 -- L'FILLE DE D'ARTAGNAN (REVENGE OF THE MUSKETEERS), but was fired before it's completion. Kind of shocking to read that a director of his caliber was fired from this project. According to some sources, he was even the one who came up with the idea for the film. He would have been around 84 at the time and I'm curious if anyone knows the reason he was let go from what would have been his actual final film?
Definitely one director I haven't delved nearly enough into. I'm curious to see how Freda handled his one and only spaghetti western -- LA MORTE NON CONTA I DOLLARI (1967) (aka. DEATH DOES NOT COUNT THE DOLLARS and NO KILLING WITHOUT DOLLARS) -- which he directed as George Lincoln.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Stephen Grimes - 05-30-2008 11:19 AM
I have the NEW disc of IGUANA which i enjoyed and showed to my mother who lived in Dublin around the time it was made,she recognised alot of the places from the time including the Lord Mayors office whose front was used as the police station plus the many scenes filmed around exclusive Dalkey where Bono,Chris de Burgh etc now live.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Johan - 06-01-2008 08:03 AM
This reminds me I have to get around to watching my Raro dvd of MURDER OBSESSION. Should be quite interesting. Freda can be a bit hit and miss but his best films are fantastic - I've always loved DOUBLE FACE (1969) and I recently saw the Italian dvd of CALTIKI (1959) and was very impressed by it. THE GHOST (1963) is great too and I'd love to check out more of his earlier films like THE HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK (1962) and THE WITCH'S CURSE (1962).
His ultra-obscure THE SALAMANDER OF THE DESERT (1970) sounds interesting too. Anyone seen it?
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - zombi69 - 06-01-2008 11:58 AM
Freda was to have done another film apparently following MURDER OBSESSION (1980) in 1994 -- L'FILLE DE D'ARTAGNAN (REVENGE OF THE MUSKETEERS), but was fired before it's completion. Kind of shocking to read that a director of his caliber was fired from this project. According to some sources, he was even the one who came up with the idea for the film. He would have been around 84 at the time and I'm curious if anyone knows the reason he was let go from what would have been his actual final film?
Definitely one director I haven't delved nearly enough into. I'm curious to see how Freda handled his one and only spaghetti western -- LA MORTE NON CONTA I DOLLARI (1967) (aka. DEATH DOES NOT COUNT THE DOLLARS and NO KILLING WITHOUT DOLLARS) -- which he directed as George Lincoln.
Hense the reason why I stated one of Freda's last films.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Meddle - 06-01-2008 10:51 PM
Murder Obsession sounds right up my alley. I recently watched Riccardo Freda's The Ghost. More of his films need to be released on DVD.
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - ex-fandessixties - 06-17-2008 03:16 AM
THE SALAMANDER OF THE DESERT came out on VHS in Germany, Johan, I can't remember the title but it does pop up from time to timle on Ebay. But the German print is bound to be shorter.
I believe its a peplum like film set in Biblical times
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Devin_Kelly - 06-17-2008 08:49 AM
Is it me, or did Freda seem to be a highly temperamental director? He walked away from more than one picture in his career after all. Perhaps one of those artists who didn't like to be told and grew frustrated very easily?
RE: Murder Obsession (Follia Omicida) (1981) - Johan - 06-20-2008 08:41 AM
But the German print is bound to be shorter.
That isn't always the case (I have a German version of THE CONCORDE AFFAIR that is longer than the Danish VHS release) but most of the time, yes, German prints are trimmed. Too bad really as German prints are usually of very good quality - much better than most Greek and Dutch releases.
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