A... come assassino

A rich diamond mine owner, improbably called John Prescott, is murdered and all his relatives gather for the reading of the will; they are instructed to live at his villa for a month and the last three participants left standing will receive all the loot! Needless to say, everyone hates each other and a string of murders immediately kicks off.

This old Italian whodunit is one of the earliest in the giallo cycle. Its restrained by the genres subsequent standards, as most 60's gialli are but it does contain some demented plot developments and characterisations, meaning it should still appeal to fans of the genre, as well as those more interested in the Agatha Christie style whodunit mechanics of the plot. It was in fact written by regular giallo screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi but he would go on to do better work. However, with its story about a group of scheming stereotypes pontificating around a villa and all seemingly up to no good, it does offer up some entertainment. Its not going to blow you mind but its certainly worth a watch. The cast includes Blood and Black Lace actress Mary Arden and muscle actor Alan Steel, as two of the primary schemers.