Estratto dagli archivi segreti della polizia di una capitale europea

A free-spirited quartet of young hippie-types (Jane (Camille Keaton), Joe (Maximo Valverde), Bill (Tony Isbert), and Fred (Giovanni Petrucci)) are on a pleasure trip when their terminally unreliable vehicle becomes virtually unusable on a stormy night. They take refuge in the villa owned by the Alexanders (Luigi Pistilli, Luciana Paluzzi), who have a sinister agenda planned for the night. When our protagonists interfere, they are subject to more terror than they can handle.

Rather slow to start, and awfully talky at times, "Tragic Ceremony" is a standard tale in some ways (complete with the use of the "old dark house" and "stormy night" tropes), and delivers no big surprises, but it walks an interesting line between suspense and spectacle. The four main characters are set up as basically engaging people who are easy enough to watch, and the supporting cast is strong. (The great Paul Muller turns up at the very end as a doctor whose job is to provide a final bit of exposition.) Keaton, the memorable star of the infamous exploitation-revenge-thriller "I Spit on Your Grave", is a compelling, striking beauty from whom you can't take your eyes. The music (by the talented Stelvio Cipriani) is good, as well as the location shooting. But what really makes sitting through this somewhat obscure Italian genre flick worth it is the massacre that occurs at approximately the midway point. You can tell that the filmmakers were pleased with their "sword cutting into a guy's head" effect (the FX were by Carlo Rambaldi): we see it a total of five times before the film is over!

Director Riccardo Freda apparently resented the job of guiding this particular film, but the results on screen are still pretty effective. At least it doesn't play out in a *completely* predictable way; the films' second half makes it worth sitting through the first half.

Six out of 10.

This late-ish effort from Freda plays as a modern day (70's that is) Gothic thriller, but comes out short of thrills. Certainly it's not a dreadfully bad film, it's jut got that feeling which many of Freda's later films have of someone who has given up when he's seen the first daily's. It starts out good enough, almost giallo like in tone, then takes a turn into Gothic territories with a decent (albeit terribly cliché) set up. Then suddenly Freda seems to have lost interest in the film and all we get is prolonged shots of Camille Keaton and burning candles. Then circa an hour into the film we get some sort of violent climax with decent-to-poor special effects. This is followed by a slow paced outro with a very obvious twist ending (If it's even intended to be a twist?). And throw a few very halfhearted explanatory scenes along the way and you got Tragic Ceremony. Thus in parts it's got its qualities. But then suddenly stumbles and collapses in front of you. A pity.

btw stay away from the SHAROMA DVD, a useless murky pan& scan edition which kills of what could be a good visual experience.

Riccardo Freda may have a good reputation; but since we now that many of his best films were, in fact, directed by the late great Mario Bava; it's clear that he wasn't one of Italy's most gifted filmmakers back in the seventies. This film pretty much proves that as despite the simplistic plot; it's a sprawling mess and overall, I'd even have to go as far as to say that Tragic Ceremony is WORSE than Freda's insipid Giallo effort, The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire. Freda apparently disowned this movie, and I certainly don't blame him! The plot simply follows a bunch of kids that run out of petrol in the middle of nowhere. They happen upon a house while searching for fuel; but it turns out to be a bad choice, as the owner is just about to conduct a satanic ceremony...ho hum. The film features a lead role for Camille Keaton, who would go on to star in the exploitation classic I Spit on Your Grave some years later, but fails to make an impression here despite acting alongside a cast of talentless performers. The film features one decent gore scene towards the end, but this really isn't enough considering that it takes eighty minutes of tedium to get there. I have a high tolerance for rubbish Italian films that don't make sense - but even I couldn't stand this one. Miss it, miss nothing!

An early appearance by Camille Keaton gives Tragic Ceremony its main point of interest. It's not as good as What Have You Done to Soalnge?, but her role is substantial enough for fans to check it out.

Probably it ranks as the second-best of her Italian-era appearances. Her icy beauty and blank expression are suited to her largely passive role.

The plot falls into the Old Dark House genre, with four fashionable and well-off young people becoming stranded at a mansion on a stormy night. Sort of like a straight non-musical version of Rocky Horror.

Black magic and other supernatural events follow, with logic going out the window. The supernatural elements keep this from really being considered as classical giallo.

But there is a fair bit of detective work and violent crime, so some people still put under the giallo banner. It's not apparent in the costumes and locations, but the action is supposed to be in the UK as Scotland Yard is mentioned.

Overall, it is a bit of a generic mix of Gothic horror and police motifs that never reaches its full potential.

Strong first half and mediocre second half.

The first half is filled with the slow building dread of the occult. There is a wonderful and unexpected climax that I won't spoil.

Then, the second half begins. And it kind of devolves into a mini-slasher story. The film recovers in the final scene which ties back to the first half.

It's def worth checking out for the fan who has already seen everything and likes genre bending.. even if it's only partially successful.