(1971/ITALY/SPAIN)
AKA: NEXT!, NEXT VICTIM, BLADE OF THE RIPPER, LA STRANO VIZIO DELLA SIGNORA WARDH.
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-SERGIO MARTINO CAST-GEORGE HILTON, EDWIGE FENECH, CONCHITA AIROLDI, MANUEL GIL, CARLO ALIGHIERO, IVAN RASSIMOV and ALBERTO DE MENDOZA. SOURCE-NO SHAME FILMS NTSC R 1 DVD. (2005)
Julie Wardh's (Edwige Fenech) life is turned around when former lover Jean shows up in town. At the same time there's a ruthless sex fiend leaving a trail of dead women that eventually leads up to her within time. When at a friend’s party she is introduced to George who automatically sweeps her off her feet. Though married to politician Neil Wardh, it doesn’t stop her from becoming romantically involved with George. As the killer’s trail gets closer and closer to Julie, she begins to receive mysterious flowers who she seems to think are from Jean. As her strange love triangle begins to get more complicated, her suspicions of Jean being the serial killer drives her to almost insanity.
First off I must say that director Sergio Martino has never really been given his due respect as a director or in the new DVD format. When one is first introduced into the Italian horror and giallo world, it usually take one to stumble upon Martino’s impressive catalogue of films. For the most part that is due to the poor showing of his films on VHS and even to this day on DVD. Slowly this landscape is changing and Martino’s highly artistic style is being more and more exposed. His body of work surely revives that of Argento and Fulci’s but in a different light altogether. Finally with the release of his first giallo THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS.WARDH viewers can start to fully appreciate his work. For years this film suffered here in the North American market being released in several different cut versions on VHS under such titles as BLADE OF THE RIPPER and NEXT!.
THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS.WARDH is truly one of Martino’s best efforts in this the giallo genre, and that is a hard call considering that most of if not all his entries into this genre are classics. There are several elements that really help make this particular title stick right out though. Elements like the great cast selection to the truly haunting score from Nora Orlandi. It is certainly one of the most moodiest pieces I have ever heard, especially each time Ivan Rassimov shows up on screen, does the score ever have this haunting beauty about it. The story is quite strong as well, as it weaves a web of complete deception. The first time going into this film, you are taken for a total loop as there a road blocks after road blocks through into the storyline. Though there is the usual amounts of red herrings through at you, you really never know what going to happen in the end. As one who loves this genre and have seen many of these films, there is still an element of surprise in the end. The main element to this film though would have to be the beauty of Edwige Fenech. She totally lights up every scene in this film and Martino knew that as with many of the scene you see the soft lights lighting her every close up. Of course this was used not only for her facial close-ups either, her every scene of nudity was accentuated with this technique. Especially during her dream sequences, and that of when in the rain with Ivan Rassimov. The music the lighting and mostly the effect of the rain really prop her beauty onto a pedestal.
One can’t say enough about Sergio Martino's directing style, in fact I would go as far as to say many of his films heavily influenced if not changed the very course the Italian giallo went. From being this two dimensional thriller to a three dimensional horror/thriller cross breed. VICE was certainly only but a tease for what was to come, especially with the impact TORSO had. His use of violence would rock the viewers of the day, combined with his many uses of the female body were just a couple of his traits that would change the giallo landscape. The dark scenes that would invoke fear and command the viewers reactions steering them at will. A vehicle that Martino would employ in most of his gialli, the more comfortable he got in the giallo seat, the darker the scenes would get. Of course in VICE, his use of dark and shadows would play with the viewers emotions as they would all be a point of despair and certain death for yet another victim. Also, like mentioned earlier, his use of dream sequences were highly stylish given more depth to the overall feel and storyline. I can’t say enough about that rain scene with Fenech and Rassimov, something you’d have to see for yourself if not already.
Uncut for the first time DVD, though it took awhile to hear that about this classic Martino giallo, No Shame certainly did total justice to it. Starting off with a gorgeous digitally remastered print from the original negative. The wide screen print in lush in colors and pretty much free of any real damage that the original might have had. The audio is either in English or Italian digital mono with removable English subtitles. The audio is quite good for it only bring mono. Now, after finishing off the film and unlike many other releases of this nature it isn’t the end it’s just the beginning as the extras are exceptional indeed. Beginning with a 30 minute featurette entitled DARK FEARS BEHIND THE DOOR, displaying many interviews with director Sergio Martino, producer Luciano Martino, Edwige Fenech, George Hilton, and writer Ernesto Gastaldi. I must say that I was highly impressed as though this was all in Italian, there were English subs through the featurette. Boy, I couldn’t believe how young Edwige looks too.
Once you make you way through the 30 minute featurette, you are then treated to a 9 minute feature taken from the Venice Film Festival where Sergio Martino discusses the screening of his film. There is also the original Italian theatrical trailer and some poster and stills gallery. All encased with a collectable booklet that showcases the talent bios of all the major players in the film (Martino, Hilton and Fenech). For a company that has just started up here in the North American market, No Shame has really out done many of those other companies that have had there foothold in the market. Though already pretty much established in the Italian market, it’s great to see such enthusiasm with these titles here in this market. So a major kudos for a job well done and this only being the first in the Martino collection.
This DVD will be released this coming May 31/2005.
STORY/FILM-4/5 PICTURE-4/5 AUDIO-3.5/5 EXTRAS-4/5 OVERALL DVD-4/5 Purchase this DVD at X-Ploited Cinema
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