L'assassino è costretto ad uccidere ancora (1975)

Director:

Luigi Cozzi

Writers:

Adriano Bolzoni (dialogue)
Luigi Cozzi (screenplay)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Plot:

Giorgio is a greedy adulterer who makes a deal with a serial killer (Michel Antoine) to dispose of his wealthy wife...

Plot Keywords:

Killer | Car | Serial Killer | Psycho Killer | Car Driving

Cast

George Hilton	...	Giorgio Mainardi
Antoine Saint-John	...	The Killer (as Michel Antoine)
Femi Benussi	...	Dizzy Blonde
Cristina Galbó	...	Laura
Eduardo Fajardo	...	Police Inspector
Teresa Velázquez	...	Norma Mainardi
Alessio Orano	...	Luca
Dario Griachi
Luigi Antonio Guerra
Carla Mancini

Also Known As:

Il ragno (Italy)
The Dark Is Death's Friend (USA) (dubbed version)
The Killer Must Kill Again (USA) (DVD title)
The Killer Must Strike Again (USA) (dubbed version)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Italy:VM18

Company:

Albione Cinematografica

Quotes:

[first lines]
Nora Mainardi: What do you take me for, an idiot? Well, you'll find out just how wrong you are!
Mainardi: An idiot? Oh, no, you're no idiot, my love! What you are is an hysterical lunatic!
Nora Mainardi: An hysterical lunatic? And who the hell is this Federica telephoning every ten minutes with that sexy voice of hers?
Mainardi: Cut it out. This Federica, whoever she is, has got to be a client.
Nora Mainardi: Sure, just like all the others. Whores: that's all they are.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in De vierde man (1983)

Very entertaining.

Giorgio Mainardi (George Hilton) is an unfaithful husband who witnesses an unnamed murderer (creepy faced Michel Antoine, a.k.a. Antoine Saint-John) in the act of disposing of a body. He uses this to his advantage: he blackmails the man into performing a service for him: namely, murdering his wife Norma (Teresa Velazquez).

But that's not the end of this twist-laden thriller. The killer has his car stolen by two attractive, footloose young lovers (stunning Cristina Galbo as Laura and hunky Alessio Orano as Luca) and relentlessly tracks them down, while Giorgio is dealing with a suspicious police inspector (Eduardo Fajardo).

I'm not an aficionado of the giallo genre, but I know enough to be aware that this often farcical thriller is a real change of pace from giallo conventions. It's actually very easy to follow and consistently entertaining, ultimately leading to some dark places and some potent violence.

Director Luigi Cozzi does one thing very well, and that's building up tension. He crafts this engaging thriller with style. Color schemes (like orange and yellow) are very noticeable, lovemaking scenes are handled quite well, and his juxtaposition of two very different sexual encounters (nudity is quite in abundance here, for those of you who are interested) is impressive. In a nice touch, the murder plot is hatched while Giorgio and the killer are at an ice rink.

The acting is generally good; Galbo is one incredibly bewitching actress, and Antoine makes for a positively unpleasant but compelling creep.

This is overall a slick and fun movie that's well worth catching.

8/10