Bestia uccide a sangue freddo, La (1971)

Director:

Fernando Di Leo

Writers:

Fernando Di Leo (screenplay)
Fernando Di Leo (story)

Release Date:

January 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Carved Out of Today's Headlines!

Plot:

A masked killer stalks an institution for mentally disturbed rich women.

Plot Keywords:

Voyeurism | Striptease | Merciless | Nymphomaniac | Creepy

Cast

Klaus Kinski	...	Dr. Francis Clay
Margaret Lee	...	Cheryl Hume
Rosalba Neri	...	Anne Palmieri
Jane Garret	...	Mara
John Karlsen	...	Professor Osterman
Gioia Desideri	...	Ruth
John Ely	...	Gardener
Fernando Cerulli	...	Augusto, the chauffeur
Sandro Rossi
Giulio Baraghini	...	Policeman
Ettore Geri	...	Inspector
Antonio Radaelli
Monica Strebel	...	Nurse Helen
Carla Mancini	...	Nurse
Franco Marletta	...	Male nurse

Also Known As:

Asylum Erotica (USA) (dubbed version)
Slaughter Hotel (USA) (reissue title)
The Beast Kills in Cold Blood
The Cold-Blooded Beast

Runtime:

Greece:86 min | USA:89 min | West Germany:97 min (uncut version) | UK:97 min (DVD)

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Sound System)

Certification:

USA:R (cut) | UK:18 (DVD rating) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Company:

Cineproduzioni Daunia 70

It is Sleazy, but not a Giallo

I will start by saying that in the Director's Interview, Di Leo admits outright that he did no research on mental institutions when he decided to make a film based on, well, mental institutions. When asked how he got along with the actresses on set, he replies, "They had good bodies." He also admits that he didn't like the film, but he is glad others do. This is really all you need to know about the film. No, wait… there is more.

Slaughter Hotel's original ad campaign played upon the idea that the film is "Based on a True Story", which means it really wasn't. It was compared to the crimes of Chicago mass-murderer Richard Speck (who actually killed student nurses and not patients), but is technically unrelated.

The premise of the film is to not be grounded in reality. Or that is my interpretation at least. Basically, this is a mental institution running in a castle complete with armored knights. The only patients they admit are young, beautiful women with a problem of running around naked for no apparent reason. The film has about 20 sex scenes, which are repeated in flashbacks as though I would forget, so I guess it is more like 115 times people have sex on screen. Ugh, there is no mystery here. I think Di Leo forgot he was making a horror film. I guess a couple girls die later leading to a tacked on, lame ending.

The major problems with the flick are many. There is highly inappropriate music resembling The Love Boat. The sound quality is bad with constant thudding and a poor transition between music and background noise. Klaus Kinksi, the lead actor, stands around with nothing to do. Di Leo has no idea what mental stability and instability is.

The scenes in this film are beyond bizarre. My favorite of which is when a Black patient hearing drums says, "This must be from my native country. I must have danced to this when I was a child." Yes folks, that's right, she proceeds to dance like a chicken and finish it off by having lesbian sex with her nurse. The rest of the film is pretty much the same. Nude massages & sponge baths, full-on female masturbation sequences, etc.

I felt like I was watching porn with bad dialogue, but I guess that would be redundant because that's what porn is. Sex, bad dialogue, and some more sex.

Nothing in this film makes sense. There is no linear plot, no mystery, and no one cares. I honesty think this was a wet dream Di Leo had. I was waiting for the flying unicorn to tackle the leprechaun for his pot of gold. And then have sex with it.

Favorite Quote – Doctor says to Female Patient, "Your desire to make love is excessive. Now go take a shower."

Extras: Well, I guess there was a Still Gallery, Trailers, and Interviews. As stated before, it includes educational commentary from the director.

Bottom Line: Ultimate sleazefest with minimal gore and zero intelligence. If you like sleaze, I recommend buying it. You will be happy. If you want a good giallo, then set this on fire, do a dance around it, and hope that God will send you anything from Argento, the Bavas, or anyone else that is Italian.

Rating: I guess it depends on your mood. Either 3/10 or 7/10.

Molly Celaschi www.HorrorYearbook.com MySpace.com/HorrorYearbook