Der Satan ohne Gesicht

This Giallo came somewhat early in the cycle, and these days is near on impossible to find. The film takes place in and around an old castle and the story focuses on the classic idea of people being killed for an inheritance. La Bambola di Satana is directed by Ferruccio Casapinta, who it has to be said, does a really fine job in terms of the style and atmosphere. The production values are very good and the director makes effective use of his setting and the castle itself is stylishly presented. However, the story is not always so interesting and that's what ultimately brings the film down. The plot focuses on Elizabeth; a young girl that returns to her family home for the reading of her uncle's will. However, upon arriving at the castle; she is introduced to some strange people and told of the various legends surrounding the place. It's not long before Elizabeth starts to have some strange experiences and she soon realises that this all has to do with her claiming her inheritance, and begins to investigate.

The film stars Erna Schürer, who is great in the lead role. Her look suits the style of the film like a glove; and the fact that she's very easy on the eyes is a major bonus. The plot of the film is basically good; but the way it's presented isn't. It's all rather choppy and can be hard to follow at times; which makes the film rather tedious. Director Ferruccio Casapinta (this his only film credit) also takes on the 'less is more' view in terms of the murders, and despite the fact that a few characters are killed; the film is practically bloodless, which is a shame - especially considering the rather cruel Blood and Black Lace that was released five years before this film. The music is rather nice, however; Franco Potenza's score is weird and disorientating, creating a nice atmosphere. The film also features a few torture scenes; but again, they are not particularly brutal. It all boils down to a well worked, if rather confusing ending. Overall, this is worth a look but really isn't one of the best Giallo's I've seen and is for fanatics only.

A courageous french dvd editor released this early rare giallo from 1969, and it's a nice surprise, a blend of moody giallo (black-leathered masked criminal, sexy Erna Shurer, tough Roland Carey, jazzy psychedelic score, moody photography, light erotic scenes), of gothic (light torture scenes) and pure amateurism. Yes amateurism, the director is completely unkown, the fabulous documentary on bonus tells us it is the director of photography Francesco Atteni who really directed, but he was a very minor technician with few movies in his filmography, like there were so many in Italy. Even if this "Bambola di Satana" hasn't got the level of early giallos by Mario Bava, Romolo Guerrieri (with Caroll Baker), Umberto Lenzi (again with Caroll Baker, unforgettable) or Emilio Miraglia, it still suits for giallo fans.

A beautiful blonde (Erna Schürer) inherits her uncle's castle outside of Rome, but the governess (Lucia Bomez) insists that he intended on selling the property and various characters pressure her in this path. She's hesitant while strange things start to occur, such as ghostly happenings and satanic nightmares. Her beau (Roland Carey) smells something fishy.

"The Doll of Satan" (1969) is Italian Gothic horror and could fit in the giallo category. It was helmed by a one-shot director, but the star said it was the assistant director who did the work on set, describing the director as an "idiot who couldn't do anything." As the story progresses, a few James Bond-isms manifest, which are eye-rolling, but at least they stir up amusing interest. The two main female stars are arguably the main highlight, along with the authentic castle setting. There's some tasteful nudity involving blonde Erna, which some versions block out (like the one I viewed).

I was disappointed by the overwrought story though. Despite the entertaining bits and entertaining histrionics, it failed to absorb me. For superior Italian/Spanish horror from that general time period, see "The Devil's Nightmare," "Murder Mansion," "The Vampires Night Orgy" and "Count Dracula's Great Love," all of which were released between 1971-73. As with "Murder Mansion," parallels can be drawn to Scooby-Doo. This production even features a dog in the cast, but it actually came out a few months before Scooby-Doo debuted.

Despite the title and some of the advertising stills, it isn't an occult-oriented movie, like "Devils of Darkness," "The Witches" (aka "The Devil's Own") or "The Crimson Cult." Also, it has never been dubbed into English, so English-speakers who don't know Italian will have to settle for subtitles.

It runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot at Castle Borghese in Pomezia, which is a dozen miles southwest of Rome; as well as Pratica di Mare and in Abruzzo.

GRADE: C.

Haha this Giallo is literally Scooby Doo. There's even a dog, it's fantastic.

The Doll of Satan is a surprisingly strong and atmospheric Italian film from the late 1960s that is, in all honesty, semi-Giallo, semi-horror.

I strongly recommend this movie based on the aesthetics alone, which are very well done. It is one of the easier mysteries to solve in my experience (Giallos often "cheat" just like Agatha Christie mystery novels, with many twists and red herrings to confuse the audience - however, that's part of the fun). But the overall presentation and execution of the story are excellent for an earlier Giallo from a minor director.

La bambola di Satana is kind of a hidden gem, and available in Italiano on streaming.

With a cob-webbed plot creakier than Miss Marple's bowling shoes, and a deliciously Scooby Doo'd twist, director Ferruccio Casapinta's audacious hybrid of Gothic black-gloved giallo, and pulpy Edgar Wallace castle-set calamity proves to be a bit of a camp classic in spite of itself! While nowhere near as phantasmagorically perverse as, Polseli's 'Black Magic Rites!', or Bianchi's sleazy 'Satan's Baby Doll', it has a engagingly skewed Gothic vibe many Euro-schlock seekers may find irresistible! Distractingly perky blonde Elizabeth Ball Janon (Erna Schurer) inherits a forbidding castle estate worthy of Frederick Usher himself, and even before the delectable Schurer has sinuously slinked into her slinkiest of nighties, some sinister, castle-creeping creep has slipped poor Elizabeth a mickey, and she suffers the most terrible visions, her S&M tormented think sponge begins to soak up all these saucy shenanigans as some prototypically elusive Giallo misfit attempts to surreptitiously snuff out all the guests; but just who is the shadow stalking snuffer, and what exactly might their murderous agenda be?

'La Bambola Di Satana' aka 'The Doll of Satan' is a wickedly warped, captivatingly kitsch whodunnit, while ultimately a little tame, its satanic nature, no less diminutive than petite scream dream Schurer, but Ferruccio Casapinta's swinging sixties, ominously outlandish, pop-gothic mystery, with its en suite, fully loaded torture chamber, hot and cold running lunatics, 24hr meth lab, conveniently located burial plots, and tantalizingly torrid terror plots guarantees your shuddersome stay in the hysterically horror-haunted Ball Janon castle will be a far from uneventful experience! Beguilingly steeped in kinky atmosphere, this endearingly quirky 60s Italian creepshow is certainly not without its charming eccentricities, and the fabulously funky, ear-wormingly groovy score by Franco Potenza is one of the more maddeningly compelling aspects to Casapinta's vastly underappreciated, sweetly sadistic Gothic fantasy.