"Omicidio a luci blu" (Murder in a blue light) takes place in New York. Someone is murdering people around in a down-and-out area, leaving a fake hand grenade near the bodies of his/her victims. A prostitute, Cherie/Starlet (Florence Guerin) lives in the same area. She has a clientele of men that look for alternative pleasures. Cherie is engaged on a search. What is she looking for? The sergeant Flanagan (David Hess), in charge of the case (the hand grenade murders), is at a complete loss about who and why.
"Omicidio a luci blue" (apart from the opening scene) is not suspenseful and it hasn't much sleaze, so people expecting lots of sex and stylish violence are bound to be disappointed. There's of course some violence, but there's definitely more sex – we are provided glimpses of Florence Guerin "au naturel" (some nudity, and sexual games too!). The presence of Florence Guerin is enough to heat up the screen.
Even if there are not standout murder scenes or suspense, the film has got something – Atmosphere. The maze of small alleys covered by wisps of fog that lead to Cherie's apartment, the hookers in the streets waiting for their clients, graffiti on the walls
.. provide for mood and ambiance.
In "Omicidio a luci blu" some exteriors were filmed in New York, and the rest in Italian studios. It's also easy to see that the film was shot on a very low budget, so it's almost a miracle what Alfonso Brescia was able to achieve with so few resources.
"Omicidio a luci blu" is far from being a giallo highlight, but there's a mystery pervading the film – a murderer roaming around and killing
(why?) very near to where Cherie lives, and the killer seems to be getting nearer and nearer. Cherie is still searching... and sergeant Flanagan is not sleeping either. He's on the verge of discovering something.
Don't expect too much and you may like the film – It's erotic (Florence Guerin is gorgeous), it's mysterious, and sometimes creative.
