'Quella villa accanto al scimitar' is a pretty poor movie; more 'My Bloody Valentine' than 'Halloween'. The story, despite the attempts of some to describe it as complex, is simply muddled and ill conceived. The sound quality, and especially the foley work, is appalling. There is no real attempt to generate any level of suspense, merely dull and overdrawn sequences of little consequence stringing together a small handful of gory setpieces. When the gore does come, it is up to the usual Fulci standards, and there's one neck stabbing that is particularly well done, though the lack of arterial spray makes it wholly unconvincing. My primary complaint is with the creature in the basement. The mystery surrounding him, and Fulci's refusal to show us anything but a moldy arm, builds a sense of expectation that the climactic scene fails miserably to satisfy. The 'creature', when finally revealed, is very badly designed, with a completely amateurish make-up that destroys what little credibility the movie has managed to generate.
Many consider this superior Fulci. I'm not one of them. This is a poor film in any language.
Many consider this superior Fulci. I'm not one of them. This is a poor film in any language.