Fatal Frames (1996)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Al Festa

Writers:

Al Festa (story)
Alessandro Monese (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 April 1997 (Singapore)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Alex Ritt (Rick Gianasi), a music video director comes to Italy to direct a video for pop sensation Stefania Stella...

Plot Keywords:

Music Video | Giallo | Snuff Film | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Stefania Stella	...	Stefania Stella
Rick Gianasi	...	Alex Ritt
David Warbeck	...	Commissioner Bonelli
Ugo Pagliai	...	Commissioner Valenti
Leo Daniel	...	Daniel Antonucci
Alida Valli	...	Countess Alessandra Mirafiori
Geoffrey Copleston	...	Mr. Fairbrain
Linnea Quigley	...	Wendy Williams
Giorgio Albertazzi	...	Father
Rossano Brazzi	...	Dr. Lucidi
Ciccio Ingrassia	...	Beggar
Donald Pleasence	...	Professor Robinson
Angus Scrimm	...	Man in Grey
Massimo Pittarello	...	Calzetta
Marcel Malcoun	...	Luca Antonucci

Also Known As:

Fotogrammi mortali (Italy)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Mediaset

Trivia:

Final film for Donald Pleasence, Rossano Brazzi and Ciccio Ingrassia.

Movie Connections:

References Halloween (1978)

Novelty value only

With Fatal Frames, Italian music video director Festa turns out a sub-par schlockfest that has little entertainment value. Even as a flawed modern tribute to the 80's Italian horror genre, viewing this film is recommended for completists and genre fans only.

The choice of Stefania Stella as leading lady is nothing short of bizarre. At her age, and with her mannish looks (despite considerable enhancement in the chest department), she lacks any credibility as a pop singer or sex symbol. Her credit as producer is probably the only way to explain her acting role in this film, because on her talents and looks she fails miserably.

The small cameos by Pleasence (in his second last film), Scrimm and Quigley are almost completely incidental to the plot. Warbeck's performance is totally over the top. With classic Italian horror film logic, several plot points are only explained in deleted scenes included on the DVD. In short, Fatal Frames is a confusing and unsatisfying viewing experience.

Although the film exhibits some visual flair, Festa's heavy hand on the zoom lens, poor dubbing and the overbearing 80's soundtrack detract from the overall film. A substandard transfer to DVD doesn't help either.

According to IMDB neither Festa nor Stella has worked again in film since Fatal Frames was filmed in '93. Many of the other cast either died within a few years of this films release (Pleasence, Warbeck, Brazzi) or are working sporadically in B grade movies. Frankly, after viewing this film, it isn't any great surprise that none appear to have gone on to greater success.

Rating 3/10