Tutti i colori del buio

Sergio Martino is famous for producing high quality Giallo films and All the Colours of the Dark does that reputation proud! While I cant say that this is as good as the likes of The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh or the amazing Your Vice is a Locked Door and Only I Have the Key, All the Colours of the Darks stands apart from Martino's other films as it's much more psychological, and spends most of it's running time following a single character. The style of the film is very psychedelic, and this ensures that it always feels very much like a movie from the seventies. There isn't a great deal of actual horror, but this is made up for by the disorienting atmosphere, which ensures that the film is always unpredictable. The film works from a screenplay by Martino's regular collaborator, Ernesto Gastaldi, and it's safe to say that this film is Italy's answer to Rosemary's Baby. We follow Jane Harrison, a woman recovering from the car crash that claimed the life of her unborn child. Her recovery takes a turn for the worse when she finds herself under threat from an organisation of Satanists.

The cast is something of a "who's who" of Italian cult cinema. Frequent Martino collaborators George Hilton and the beautiful Edwige Fenech take the lead roles and the film wouldn't feel complete without them. Edwige Fenech fits the lead role like a glove. She's at her best when she's playing the vulnerable victim, and that is the role she has here. The sleazy George Hilton has been better, and he isn't given much to do in this film; but it's always nice to see him in a Giallo. Cult star Ivan Rassimov stands out as the villain of the piece, while Susan Scott; the beautiful actress who has appeared in films such as Death Walks at Midnight and Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals makes a mark in supporting role. The plot moves well, and Sergio Martino does a good job of getting us behind the lead character. The music and cinematography are superb, and Martino's use of colour helps to ensure that the film has a vibrant atmosphere, which suits the plot well. The climax is a little abrupt, and despite the scene leading up to it; I've got to admit that it left me a bit cold. The rest of the plot is great, however and while this isn't Martino's most successful foray into Giallo; it's still a very good one, and comes recommended.

A woman : Edwige Fenech , recovering from a car crash along with her boyfriend : Uruguay-born George Hilton, suffers hallucinations and strange dreams , being plagued by nightmares about a coven of devil bloodline worshippers . She lost her unborn child , being nowadays mercilessly pursued by an ominous killer with blue eyes : Ivan Rassimov and wielding a knife . A blood-drenched nightmare from which you awaken too late ! .Something is out there .. coming closer .. Don't be afraid to be afraid . They exist . They bear the Mark of the Devil inside them. They May be neighbors . They May be your wife , husband , sweetheart . They May even be your children . Their time has come . They cannot be exorcised from the World because their power has grown too strong.. their numbers too many !

Sergio Martino's Gialli getting certain success , being compellingly shot , including well staged crimes with plenty of startling visual content and adding Rosemary's Baby thematic . This is the usual Gialli where intrigue , tension , suspense , stabbing and chases show up lurking and threatening throughout parks , buildings , elevador, corridors and grim interiors . The film combines atmospheric blending of thrills , chills , nudism and suspenseful final . The rather perplexing tale weavers so many red herrings when ultimately the murderer is unmasked . Based on a story by prolific Santiago Moncada and whose scripts were created films as The Cauldron of Death , Bell from Hell , Corruption of Chris Miller and A Hatchet for Honeymoon by Mario Bava . Nice ambiance and setttings from Jose Luis Galicia and Raúl Pérez Cubero , enhanced by the well photographed London carried out by good cameraman Miguel Fernández Mila . As well as intriguing musical score by Bruno Nicolai, usual collaborator to Ennio Morricone . Being an Italian/Spanish co-production here appears Italian actors : Edwige Fenech , Ivan Rassimov , Marina Malfatti , Luciano Pigozzi or Alan Collins , Dominique Boschero and Spanish ones : Nieves Navarro or Susan Scott , Jorge Rigaud and Julián Ugarte , giving all of them acceptable interpretations .

The picture was decently directed by the Italian director Sergio Martino . Talented and versatile writer/director Sergio Martino has made unaffected products for mass consumption , realizing a vast array of often entertaining films through an uneven career . Brother of producer Luciano Martino, Sergio has frequently worked with actors George Hilton , Ivan Rassimov , Claudio Cassinelli and actress Edwige Fenech . Directing all kinds of genres as horror, gialli , sex comedy , Spaghetti Western as proved in Mannaja , Arizona returns . Sergio Martino was an expert on Giallos , such as : Torso, The suspicious death of a Minor , The Case of Scorpion's tale, Murder in an Etrusco cemetery, The strange vice of Mrs Ward and this Tutti i color del buio 1972 . Furthermore , he made other genres as Warlike : Casablanca Express , and Sci-Fi : Destroyer , 2019 After the fall of New York . Rating : 6.5/10, a notable slasher that will appeal to Giallo enthusiasts and Edwige Fenech fans.

There's isn't any black-gloved killer butchering one fashion model after the other with an exceptional weapon here, yet that certainly doesn't make "All the Colors of the Dark" any less of a genuine Italian giallo! This solid thriller, directed by the almighty Sergio Martino ("Torso", "Blade of the Ripper") , benefits most from its extremely stylish cinematography and, of course, the mesmerizing looks of lead actress and reigning giallo-queen Edwige Fenech. With this natural beauty running around hysterically all the time – often scarcely dressed – you almost feel forced to forgive the story for being overly confusing and the violence for being too tame. Jane is a young woman, still recovering from a traumatizing accident in which she lost her unborn child, and suffers from re-occurring nightmares as well as hallucinations of being stalked by a blue-eyed creep. With her lover Richard out of town a lot, others try to help Jane with her mental problems. Her sister recommends seeing a psychiatrist and a befriended girl in the apartment even advises her to join a satanic cult. This last initiative obviously isn't a very good idea, as lovely Jane becomes involved in an occult mess of rape & murder, starring all the people of her unexplained hallucinations. Sergio Martino creates and sustains a powerful atmosphere of paranoia and morbidity, yet it's truly regretful that there isn't any more gore on display. Jane's nightmares are remotely bloody, but true fans of Italian horror cinema require a bit more sadism. There are several suspenseful scenes to make up for this, notably the one where Fenech awakes in a countryside cottage and painfully realizes she STILL isn't safe. The screenplay makes several intriguing twists & turns near the end, just in time to make it a great giallo after all. I have to admit that the first hour of "All the Colors of the Dark" nearly wasn't as compelling and involving as other contemporary gialli. The music is great as usual and, apart from Edwige, this movie also contains great performances by George Hilton, Ivan Rassimov and Nieves Navarro.

"Tutti i colori del buio" is worth a look if you are interested in the visuals of cinema. Sergio Martino's directing of the mostly dreamlike scenes is almost unbelievable. The use of wide-angle lenses, strange perspectives and slow-motion serves perfectly the weird atmosphere of this thriller.

Add to this a stylish 70s score by Bruno Nicolai and an unusually good script (well, for Italian giallo films) and you have another unknown classic.

9 out of 10

Though typically billed as a traditional giallo, All The Colors of the Dark owes more to Rosemary's Baby than it does The Bird With the Crystal Plumage. The stunning Edwige Fenech plays the lead character who finds herself getting wrapped up in a bizarre cult after a neighbor tells her that it might help her get over some of her issues. Naturally, things don't end well when she starts suspecting that this cult doesn't have the best of intentions.

For those expecting buckets of blood, you'll be disappointed, but the script for All The Colors Of The Dark and much smarter and more thoughtful than a lot of other giallo scripts and is filled with twists, turns, and even some honest-to-God suspense.