E tanta paura

I've seen a lot of giallos and have got pretty good at unraveling convoluted storylines, but I admit defeat with Plot of Fear, which left me more than a tad confused, primarily about the identity of the killer and their modus operandi. I got the gist of the plot - someone is killing off members of a hedonistic club, revenge for the death of a young prostitute during one of their wild parties - but who that person is and why they leave pages from creepy kids book Struwwelpeter (Italian title: Pierino Porcospino) on the victims is something I couldn't grasp.

However, despite being somewhat baffled by the plot (maybe a rewatch is in order when I am less tired), I still had a reasonably good time with the film, largely thanks to the frequent nudity and a couple of nasty deaths: several attractive ladies strip for the camera, with stunning Corinne Cléry (Hitch-hike) getting nekkid for the film's gratuitous sex scene, while the most brutal murders see a woman burnt alive and a guy hung from a meathook, the point emerging from his throat. Also adding to the fun is an amusing excerpt from a pornographic cartoon shown during one of the club's gatherings. Also look out for a pre-Alien Tom Skerritt as one of the cops investigating the case.

Paolo Cavara had already directed an earlier giallo by the time he made Plot of Fear. His previous effort - The Black Belly of the Tarantula - was pretty much a textbook example of the genre. By 1976 the sub-genre had ran its course and that may be why Plot of Fear tries to bring in a few different angles into the giallo template. For this reason it's a relatively distinctive effort. For my money it isn't as good as the classic-style Tarantula. It lacks the thrills of that one. Nevertheless, it remains a worthy effort.

Rather than a completely new take on the genre, it might be truer to say that Plot of Fear mixes typical giallo aspects with atypical ones. We have traditional giallo elements like a group of unsympathetic rich people being violently murdered one by one, a secret sex club, dark secrets from the past informing the present and each murder being signatured with a page from a sinister sounding children's story book (in this case a book called 'Shock-Headed Peter). As you could also gather the plot-line is typically convoluted too. Where things deviate from the norm is the inclusion of paranoid thriller material, no doubt influenced by the Watergate fallout that shaped many other films of the time. This is in reference to the whole wire-tapping/tapes thread and the morality of the private investigators whose services can be bought. The film overall does seem to have at least some social and political conscious, which is very far removed from most gialli. Its mystery is also wrapped up in a somewhat unorthodox manner that is significantly different to others in the genre.

The casting is a little unusual too for a giallo. While John Steiner was a regular at playing shady characters in these types of movies, the same cannot be said for the American actors Eli Wallach or Tom Skerrit. The latter has a very minor role indeed, almost irrelevant; you almost wonder why they didn't just hire one of their stock bit player actors for his role. As a film, this is a pretty decent effort. It isn't as formulaic as most in the genre. While it's central mystery is intriguing enough and builds up interest by way use of some interesting flashbacks. One of which shows the rich and decadent clique relaxing while watching a pornographic cartoon. I really would like to know what it is, as it looked like a bit of a riot. Answers on a postcard for that one.

Overall, Plot of Fear isn't among the best in the giallo genre. But it is probably among that grouping of titles that straddle other genres and are somewhat less predictable. Not essential stuff by any means but fans of Italian genre pictures will surely find something to enjoy in it.

A series of brutal and savage murders baffles police.Egocentric inspector Gaspare Lomenzo(Michele Placido)wants to catch elusive killer.The victims were the members of a bizarre sex club called The Fauna Lovers.The club is led by eccentric and filthy rich author Hoffman.The accidental death of a hooker Rosa may help to solve this tough criminal case...After making brilliant giallo "Black Belly of the Tarantula" Paolo Cavara made "Plot of Fear".The film is well-acted and very suspenseful with several surprising plot twists.The set designs are garish,the ladies are beautiful and there is a bit of sleaze.The murders are stylish and unrelenting for example one female victim is burned alive.The portrayal of wealthy decadence in "Plot of Fear" comes across as depressing and unforgiving.8 giallos out of 10.

This is how you make a film stand out in a crowded market, as we get a giallo with all the usual ingredients (black-gloved killer, loads of suspects/red herrings, nakes ladies, beautiful photography) mixed with tons of quirkiness, seventies technology, irony, social commentary and even animation.

The film starts of memorably enough with a kimono clad man waiting in anticipation in his floral, purple themed room (purple an recurring colour in this film). A lady hooker friend arrives and it seems our fella likes to get slapped about and get his hair pulled, but isn't into being strangled and murdered for some reason. A page from a child story book is left by the prostitute, with a different card being left at a murder that happens on a bus shortly afterwards.

This is where Inspector Lomenzo steps in. He sees that there's a killer on the loose, but can't quite figure out the connection between the two people, much to the annoyance of his boss, Tom Skerrit. At the same time, he's caught the eye of the young lady that lives up the stairs from his apartment that he shares with his hippy girlfriend. Further complicating the plot is Eli Wallach as the private investigator who uses modern technology to spy on his clients, his staff, and just about everybody else he encounters. A businessman approaches Eli and say that the police don't have a clue that the two victims were part of some Wildlife Friends Club, and that the murders have something to do with a party that happened at the 'Hoffman House'. Eli gives Lomenzo these little clues, but does he have a sinister motive?

This film seems to head in many directions at once as Lomenzo tries to juggle his love life with the murders (and the two become entwined). The murderer works his way through the cast, including burning to death the prostitute that killed the kinky guy at the start of the film, shooting a guy on live TV, and running over another guy. This is all standard giallo stuff but then you have the businessman's house secured with a futuristic alarm system, his mother's nurse having a chug in the toilets for no reason, and the Wildlife Friends Club watching an completely off-the-wall cartoon porno before taking part in some sort of 'blowjob roulette'. This strangeness runs throughout the entire film and keeps you on your toes.

Although Tom Skerrit appears, he doesn't do much and Eli Wallach only comes in to play mainly in the final part of the film. Neither of them dub there own voice. It's Michele Placido as Inspector Lomenzo who is the main focus of the film, running around trying to figure out what's going while his girlfriend runs off with another man, not that he's bothered it gives him a chance to get to know the young lady from upstairs. Gets to know her all night long.

Plenty of twists in the plot too. John Steiner redeems himself for his diabolical performance in Deported Women of the SS Special Section by being more subdued here, but no less sleazy.

Likable, if not particularly stylish or violent despite the many and varied killings. Lots going on with all manner of activity including wild animals and wild women. Some interesting play with the emerging European cinematic interest in mixed race activity. The lovely Corinne Clery looks good all the time, both clothed and unclothed and everything moves along beautifully, if more than a little confusedly! Still, what's new with giallo, although this edges more towards cop-thriller without any of the giallo style present in the same director's Black Belly of the Tarantula. The music is as bit below par too but the complicated police investigations are carried out with some flair and the liberal peppering of naughtiness ensures there is never a dull moment.