By Melissa Antoinette Garza
THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS (1972) begins with a woman (Evi Farinelli) on her way to see her friend. She’s in an elevator and oblivious to the man putting gloves on as everyone else walks out. In the end, it’s just her and the killer. She is stabbed to death and her body is left for a group on the next stop to find.
Resident Mizar (Carla Brait)gives her information to the other witnesses, but inform them that she has to go to a rehearsal. She works at a club where she asks for a man to come and challenge her to a 3 minute round. If he wins, she agrees to be his. She taunts her opponent and tosses him around as he does whatever he can to catch her. He’s no challenge though and she tumbles her way to victory. It’s a sexy little show of playful BDSM with a voyeuristic crowd. The man doesn’t handle defeat well and needs to be thrown out of the bar.
Her fun photographer Arthur (Oreste Lionello) influences client Andrea (George Hilton) to check out Mizar’s work though Andrea seems far more interested in Arthur’s other model Jennifer (Edwige Fenech).
The feeling is mutual, but Jennifer has baggage. She was a part of a sex cult that involved orgies and the whole thing became too much as she craved a monogamous relationship. The leader of the cult and her former husband Adam (Ben Carra) wants her back and is a crazy douche about it. He tries to inject her with drugs to make her “remember” but she escapes. Soon Jennifer is being stalked by the same killer who murdered the woman in the elevator.
Her ex and new boyfriend are certainly suspects, but they’re not the only odd characters involved in Jennifer’s life. Her roommate Marilyn (Paola Quattrini) is my favorite character. She has a morbid sense of humor and fucks with Andrea when she finds out he has a blood phobia. She’s very sexy and a helluva lot of fun. I wish her and Jen had some fun together. If nothing else, Marilyn could have had a ball with the lesbian neighbor Sheila (Annabella Incontrera). At least, Jennifer has a nice scene with her.
At one point, Jennifer is nearly killed and Sheila offers her refuge. Jennifer only in her bra because the murderer took her top off asks for help. The beautiful gal is more than happy to accommodate her new friend. If only Sheila’s stupid pop ((Jorge Rigaud),didn’t come home maybe those girls could have played together!
Beyond Sheila and Marilyn, a few more tenants raise eyebrows. A weird old woman (Carla Mancini) and her strange burned son who she hides out rounds out the list of people of interest.
The end reveal is relatively surprising and flashbacks of another character are interwoven nicely during this scene. We also have a final shot that is a cool way to keep the energy sinister when the final credits appear.
Though it does not use all of the same formulaic strategies as a standard whodunit, it does fit in marvelously among other Giallo entries. If you’re having an Italian Horror night, you could do far worse. The acting is great. The sexuality and sensuality is raw and exciting. The women are gorgeous and strong. The tone is dark and the score fits amazingly with the pace and atmosphere. There are plenty of artistic shots, repetitive foreboding and fabulous imagery that this style is known and adored for so for fans of this ilk seek it out.
The US dub is currently on YOUTUBE otherwise it seems this is available only for purchase. For those who like to own, I highly suggest you do.
Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10
