MC
Marco Castellini
•An English director, recently widowed, throws himself into work to escape his grief and agrees to shoot a documentary in Spoleto about the Devil in Renaissance painting. He brings his young daughter along and moves into an old house that particularly fascinates him. However, the house's influence, especially a mysterious 17th-century painting said to have been created by the Devil himself, has devastating effects on his daughter's fragile psyche...
One of the many horror films made in Italy following the enormous success of "The Exorcist." But beware, this is not the usual poorly executed Italian clone of Friedkin's masterpiece. Dallamano's film is, in fact, a high-quality production that boasts not only solid direction and a brilliant screenplay but also eerie cinematography and excellent performances, including the standout young and "diabolical" Nicoletta Elmi, the sadistic child from "Deep Red." Ultimately, this is a terrifying and, at times, rather unsettling film that suffers slightly from pacing issues, particularly in the middle section. This title, quite difficult to find, is especially suited for fans of the Italian gothic tradition; a film to rediscover.
