Blood Link

I'm strangely fascinated by the acting career of Michael Moriarty. He's rather odd-looking and never seems to know what's going on, yet he was often offered important horror roles during the 1980's. Especially, by Larry Cohen who cast him in "Q – The Winged Serpent" and "The Stuff". Well, "Blood Link" isn't exactly an important film, but it's easily his most ambitious and valuable role. Your first impression will probably be that he's terribly miscast in his double role as sadistic murderer and the telepathically linked twin brother who pursues him, but he actually grows in his role and gets more convincing as the story develops. Craig Mannings is a doctor living in the United States who's frequently disturbed by nightmares in which he sees himself committing gruesome murders. He's instantly reminded of his former Siamese twin brother Keith, only he supposedly dies in an arson at age 17. The search brings him to Hamburg where the sane & insane brother will be reunited, although not without a lot of bloodshed. "Blood Link" is an interesting, albeit slow and implausible thriller with some clear giallo influences and a most enchanting score by master Ennio Morricone. Alberto De Martino – one of Italy's most criminally underrated director – professionally and adds in twists, nifty murders and even some nudity whenever you tend to lost interest. Although nearly not shocking or violent enough to rank among Italy's better thrillers, fans might find it enjoyable and worth tracking down.

Two twin brothers, one good and one evil, share a Blood Link which allows them both to see through the other brothers eyes. Problem is that one of them is a serial killer and the good brother will have to try and stop his sibling from murdering innocent people in Germany.

We meet Craig who starts having visions and nightmares of a person who looks just like himself killing random women. He feels satisfaction and relief each time he sees these things happening, evening feeling as though he committed the crimes himself. Craig starts investigating his upbringing and the fact that he has an apparent siamese twin out there named Keith. This all leads him to West Germany where he travels to in an attempt to find his brother and stop his murderous ways. Will he be able to accomplish this, or will Keith turn the tables on him and switch places in the eyes of the police?

Blood Link is a thriller that has a very interest concept with the two identical/siamese twin brothers, one good and one evil. The idea that they can see each others actions through each other's eyes is an interesting one which worked well throughout the movie. Craig sees every evil action and kill that Keith commits. The flaws with the movie lies with the character development and motive of the killer Keith. We get that there was a very bad childhood upbringing, but the film never gives us his real drive to kill all of the people he knocks off. In the end, the murders feel very shallow and we are left just with two twin brothers battling it out for no good reason.

Michael Moriarty does a fine job as the lead character Craig and Keith. He's believable as both the psychotic killer and the man who is so confused as to what is happening in his dreams. I thought the real standout was Penelope Milford as Craig's girlfriend Julie. She had some fun scenes with the good brother, and highly emotional and terrifying scenes with the evil one.

Blood Link was a below average watch for me. It started out well, but dragged on quite a bit with a story that never seemed to be fully imagined on screen by the director.

4/10

This obscure Italian film – made in the English language – mixes typical elements of the giallo with a few sci-fi trappings, and adds to them a doppelganger theme. Incidentally, given that it deals with Siamese twins who haven't been in contact for years but are able to 'see' what one another is doing, it somehow feels like the long-lost sibling of two Brian De Palma films itself – coming, as it does, in between his SISTERS (1973) and RAISING CAIN (1992)!

Anyway, it's mildly interesting (even more so for me, being a twin myself!), good-looking (the film was shot in the U.S. and Germany) and features an understated Ennio Morricone score – but, in the long run, emerges as nothing especially remarkable. Besides, even if the supporting cast is decked out with veteran presences – Geraldine Fitzgerald, Virginia McKenna and Cameron Mitchell – they're all basically wasted (McKenna, for instance, is already dead within the first 5 minutes!).

The lead is played by Michael Moriarty, an actor noted for his intense performances – and, here, we get double the dose (with the star, predictably, hamming it up particularly in his serial-killer characterization)! However, he's flanked by two lovely ladies whose contribution is above-average for this sort of thing – Penelope Milford (ex-Oscar nominee for COMING HOME [1978]!) as the good Moriarty's girlfriend and Sarah Langenfeld (in one of only 4 films she did) as the daughter of has-been prizefighter Mitchell, whose cold-blooded murder at the hands of the bad Moriarty she witnesses. By the way, the film features a surprising amount of nudity (by the two girls and others) – but it's not done in an overly sleazy or exploitative manner.

The 'face/off' situations between the two brothers provide the expected fireworks; the climax, then, sees Milford distracting the villainous (and impotent) Moriarty by letting him rape her – thus enabling the police to track him down through his brother's ability to recognize the surroundings! This is followed, however, by a far-fetched CARRIE (1976)-like twist set in the city morgue...but which leads to an effectively unsettling 'curtain' where Milford is literally unable to tell which brother she's ended up with!

P.S. If all goes well, I should be getting to another of De Martino's horror films – HOLOCAUST 2000 (1977) – in the near future, which is one I've missed out on numerous times in the past...

Michael Moriarty does a good job of playing identical, separated Siamese twins, who share a telepathic link. Craig is a doctor practising in North America whilst Keith is a psychopathic killer, murdering in Berlin. Craig acts upon his visions and travels to Germany to try and stop the killing spree. Although a fan of Euro horror I had not heard of Blood Link until I saw a cheap copy for sale on VHS. The cover alone sold it to me. Moriarty is good in both roles. Cameron Mitchell shows up as an out of condition, over the hill fighter. And most of the actresses end up naked. There is a touch of sleaziness about Blood Link. It also has a reasonable body count, and although there is a lot of dialogue throughout it's running time it is peppered with kills and nudity to keep it interesting. Now, that artwork for the cover looks very familiar - New York Ripper!!??

Blood Link is a German and Italian co-production; although it was clearly made for an American audience. The film has got itself in with the 'Giallo' style that had it's heyday in Italy during the seventies; although the reason for that is probably merely down to the fact that it's directed by Alberto De Martino; as despite some Giallo elements, I wouldn't call this film a Giallo on the whole. Blood Link is more of a psychological thriller that takes in themes relating to psychology and a psychic link between two people. Craig Mannings and his girlfriend are doctors trying to create a new way of exploring pain and dreams. Craig decides to test the new methods on himself but ends up finding a way into his presumed dead ex-Siamese twin brother's conscience. He discovers that his brother is living in Hamburg and murdering people; but this doesn't stop him from going to Hamburg and tracking him down. When he arrives in Hamburg, the killings continue until the inevitable meeting between the two brothers.

Michael Moriarty has had an interesting career; the highlight of which for me is his role in Larry Cohen's excellent 'The Stuff'. His performance here is not quite as over the top, but it is rather more impressive. Moriarty is not an obvious choice for the lead role in a film like this; but he fits into it excellently and makes both characters he plays very believable. The film is interesting throughout and several good ideas are explored; not least the idea of a psychic link between two brothers that used to share a physical link, but there's also some good ideas relating to the sexuality of the 'bad' twin. There's a few murders scenes; none of them particularly bloody or over the top but good enough and fitting within the movie. Cameron Mitchell's aging wrestler's character has a highlight scene in that respect. The film manages to stay interesting for the duration and it all boils down to a suitably dark and compelling conclusion. The premise of the movie is similar to David Cronenberg's later Dead Ringers; and while the latter is the better film, there's lots to like here and Blood Link is certainly worth a look.