The 11th Shameless DVD release is My Dear Killer, a movie being seen uncut for the first time in the UK, and I suspect probably not being seen in any format in the UK for over 25 years.
To some degree My Dear Killer is a movie out on its own in the now renowned Shameless movie catalogue, I guess this could be the reason why the release is much more muted. My Dear Killer is very much like a traditional Agatha Christie style thriller movie, with a large number of death, that except for the first one are very standard stuff, and certainly not deserving the movies 18 certificate, or the disappearance from Britain over the last 2 and a half decades.
The story begins with a murder that leads Inspector Luca Peretti (George Hilton) to uncover a series of other murders, all of which are seemingly linked together. The story is full of traditional Christie elements of pieces of a puzzle, like a picture, a mirror, and the impact of items on a slope that all pieced together solve the murder. It's all pretty clever stuff, but way out of the ordinary for the Italian thriller genre known as Giallo. The movie
has loads of red herrings thrown in to distract, and some red herrings that turn out to be integral pieces of the bigger picture.
I guess the biggest influence on the altered Giallo storytelling is down to the movies director Tonino Valerii, who well known for his spaghetti westerns broke into the exciting new Giallo genre to literally try his hand. Where other leaders like Dario Argento, Aldo Lado, Umberto Lenzi, and Lucio Fulci, featured high levels of often graphic violence and gore, Valerii almost shied away from this sort of storytelling, although keeping the traditional black leather gloved hands always in vision to add that level of terror. I confess I kept expecting at any time to see someone's head cut off, or at least incredibly diced, especially if you look at all the releases across the world all featuring the same image of a buzz saw being used on a screaming woman. Sadly for me, but in other ways this is certainly not the case. Although death by buzz saw does occur it's pretty tame going and almost an anti climax.
The movie progresses fairly well but commits the ultimate no no, in my book; and this is what I call the Scooby Doo ending, in which our detective or crime solver gathers all the potential killers together in a room only to expose one as the killer, yes if your 10 years old this is perfectly acceptable storytelling; but this movie was always designed for an adult audience.
I love the bizarre relationship with Peretti and his girlfriend, who's name escapes me, this relationship is almost sad masochistic in its development, both continuously shouting at each other and showing a major discontent. While he is trying to woo her, she is trying to indicate that her ovaries are potentially drying up "If we don't have a family soon it will be too late!" and almost indicating if he is not up for the job she'll go off and find someone who can. The relationship is a stark contrast compared to Peretti's at work stance in which he listens to everyone, pays close attention, and is essentially a rock of support.
The performers all deliver well, if you're familiar with Italian movies all the cast look vaguely familiar, although few names spring to mind. George Hilton one time Italian leading man really dominates every scene practically appearing in every single scene.
To sum up the feature as a whole if you're into your dark and gritty type of Giallo/Thriller then My Dear Killer is most definitely not for you, especially if you're really into your Dario Argento Giallo. If you like a really good story and a bit of a mystery enjoying Agatha Christie novels and the like then this movie will be right up your street. I quite enjoyed the movie, but being a bit sick would have liked a little more guts to the piece.
About The DVD
My Dear Killer is presented in 16.9 widescreen format; it has been digitally remastered with English audio. It's the first time the movie has been seen in the UK uncut with a running time of 94.22 minutes. The Cover is the now typical 80's inspired one, with yellow border and yellow case. The cover shows a woman being attacked by a hand drill, with saw attachment. On the reverse is the less hostile cover used to promote the movie back in the day with the movies star George Hilton looking in a stern way to a woman sat opposite. The back of the case has the amusing "Sorry my digger slipped!" comment in reference to an incident that occurs prior to the movies opening titles.
The DVD has trailers for the following Shameless releases: What Have They Done To Your Daughter, Night Train Murders, Torso, Baba Yaga, Ratman, and The Black Cat. As is usual the DVD also includes the trailer for the feature itself in this case My Dear Killer
My Dear Killer is available from play.com for £9.99 or slightly higher from the likes of Amazon, or high street HMV's.
Spencer Hawken 04/08
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The killer would have gotten away with it too if it weren't for those damn kids. ;)
sunmeilan 17.04.2008 17:50
Goodness me, another one to add to my ever-growing rental list - this really does sound up my street! I know what you mean about Scooby Doo endings, but I still enjoy them...
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