With the giallo at its peak in the early 70s, it seemed that every filmmaker working in Italy was vying to make one and put their unique creative stamp on this highly popular genre. Presented here are a trio of early 70s gialli, all directed by filmmakers who had never made one before (or after) and all presenting wildly different approaches to the genre’s most prevalent trappings.
The Girl In Room 2A: After being released from prison, Margaret (Daniela Giordano) goes to stay at a halfway house for female ex-cons, run by the kindly Mrs. Grant. It’s not long before she begins experiencing strange happenings in the old house, and things take an even more unsettling turn when she befriends Charlie, who is searching for his sister, who disappeared after staying in the house.
A bizarre giallo directed by American exploitation filmmaker, William L. Rose & produced by globe trotting sleaze impresario, Dick Randall, The Girl In Room 2A (‘House of Fear’ in Italian) plays like an American roughie that’s been dressed as a murder mystery. Vinegar Syndrome is pleased to present this in a brand new 2K restoration of its original 35mm camera negative & in its longest and most complete version ever presented on disc!
The French Sex Murders: Following the brutal death of a prostitute at a Parisian brothel, grizzled Inspector Fontaine (Robert Sacchi) is brought in to investigate. After implicating Antoine (Peter Martell), a petty thief & regular client of the murdered woman, Fontaine believes the case to be closed. However, after Antoine makes a daring attempt to escape, getting decapitated in the process, those affiliated with implicating him begin to meet their own violent ends. Has Antoine’s vengeful spirit returned to kill those he believes responsible for his own gruesome fate, or has another, more sinister character been behind these diabolical murders from the very beginning?
A sublimely trashy giallo produced by Dick Randall and helmed by assistant director, Ferdinando Merighi, The French Sex Murders straddles the line between a clever murder mystery and a distinctly 70s sleaze-fest. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present the world Blu-ray debut of this cult favorite, newly restored from its original 35mm camera negative!
My Dear Killer: After a man is decapitated at a construction site, Inspector Luca Peretti (George Hilton) is assigned to the case. But what initially seems to be an isolated killing soon paves the way for an ever growing number of vicious murders. As Peretti tries to unmask the killer, he discovers that all of the victims were connected to another shocking & unsolved crime – the horrific murder of a young girl.
Directed by Tonino Valerii, My Dear Killer was his sole foray into the giallo genre. The result is a handsomely produced and unrelenting mystery-thriller that revels in clever twists and brutally depicted murders. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present this sleeper masterpiece of prime era giallo cinema on Blu-ray, from a stunning new 4K restoration of its 35mm original negative.
STARRING: George Hilton, Patty Shepard, Anita Ekberg, Daniela Giordano, Rosalba Neri