Midnight Horror

This film begins with police officer "Nicola Levi" (Leonardo Treviglio) discovering that his wife, "Sara Levi" (Barbara Scoppa), has been having an affair. Enraged, they get into a fight when she comes home, nearly leading to her being killed after she stabs him with an ice pick. Fortunately, Levi pulls himself together and leaves the house at the last moment, first going to see a psychologist named "Anna Berardi" (Valeria D'Obici), whom he trusts completely. While he's there, someone enters his wife's house and stabs her to death with the same ice pick she previously used against Nicola. Needless to say, he immediately becomes the prime suspect, even though Anna is convinced that he is entirely innocent. Not only that, but she also believes the killer will strike again soon. However, when he does, rather than clearing Nicola, the police continue to list him as their prime suspect, which makes things even more difficult for all concerned. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will simply say that this was an okay slasher film that benefited greatly from the mystery surrounding the actual identity of the killer. On the other hand, I thought that some of the scenes were a bit too unrealistic, and other scenes could have used a little more gore or intensity. But that's just my opinion. In any case, although certainly not one of the better horror films during this particular era, it managed to pass the time reasonably well, and I have rated it accordingly.

The director of Midnight Killer is Lamberto Bava, son of the legendary Mario. Lamberto's era was the 80's and he made several effective and fun horror films in that decade. So it is with some disappointment that I have to conclude that I thought Midnight Killer his weakest effort I have seen. It's very possible that Bava himself wasn't too crazy about this one either seeing as he went under a pseudonym.

The story follows a fairly typical giallo plot-line about serial murder. It borrows a bit from other earlier films from the genre like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Torso and Tenebrae. But it never approaches the standard of any of these. While Bava does manage to generate some decent suspense at times, overall the film is a little half-hearted. Even the soundtrack by the usually inspired Claudio Simonetti of Goblin fame is a fairly pedestrian synth score. The mystery itself isn't so obvious to work out but given the insane final explanation that is not really so surprising to be honest. In fact, the final killer reveal is especially daft even by giallo standards. It actually enters into Hanna-Barbera territory! It isn't as gory as many gialli and there isn't really any nudity but there still is a mean spiritedness to the scenes with the killer nevertheless. This is alleviated somewhat though by moments that enter the truly absurd, such as a part when one of the victims tries to defend herself with a kitchen blender! This scene is agreeably moronic and at least good for a chuckle.

I have to conclude that overall, while Midnight Killer has some good moments it isn't very good as a whole.

Even though the truly golden years for the Italian giallo had passed since quite a while already, the decade of the 1980's still brought forward a handful of decent & memorable efforts. Two directors in particular kept this magnificent sub genre alive, namely Dario Argento (with his "Tenebrae" and "Opera") and Lamberto Bava. His best known giallo may be "A Blade in the Dark" but this "The Midnight Ripper" is arguable his best effort, alongside "Delirium: Photos of Gioia". Whatever the film lacks in originality and plausibility, it makes up in sheer suspense and gory good killings! When the adulterous wife of a police officer is found brutally stabbed in her apartment, her husband Nikola immediately becomes the prime suspect because he's an alcoholic and doesn't have an alibi. But when more murder occur in the city, a female police psycho-analyst points out that the nature of these killings strangely resemble the style of notorious Italian serial killer. The only problem is that this killer, nicknamed the Midnight Ripper, died in an arson more than ten years ago. No, sadly the plot of this film isn't as convoluted as those of 70's gialli, but it surely holds your attention and Lamberto Bava at least attempted to add some typical red herrings. The musical score is absolutely staggering, thanks to composer Claudio Simonetti (the main man behind the successful cult band Goblin). Ah yes, and then there are the murders.... Anyone who's familiar with other Bava titles such as "Demons" or "Macabre" knows that our director isn't afraid to stuff his films with sadistic violence and graphic gore. The gruesome murders in "The Midnight Ripper" are committed by ordinary kitchenware, such as knives, an ice-pick (eat your heart out, "Basic Instinct"!) and even a blender. It's a very cool film and I'm sure that every fan of Italian horror cinema will love watching it.

One of the lesser seen of Lamberto Bava's gialli, Midnight Killer is a nifty little affair that won't rock any worlds but does deliver rather nicely. The plot begins with a drunk and jealous policeman fighting with his wife after suspecting her of infidelity. She is soon killed and suspicion falls on him, but things are a little more complicated and the bodies mount up. And what does a deceased serial killer have to do with it? Things are evenly paced and pretty engaging, though they don't really sparkle until the intense finale. The main problem is that there isn't really a clear hero, there are three nominal main characters and screen time is spread fairly evenly between them without letting any grow to a truly sympathetic level. The writing is light on characterization so the film bowls along rather than truly hooking, and worse there isn't much in the way of detective work or intrigue (though there are a few red herrings). Fortunately the mystery at hand is fairly interesting and the killings deliver, though not especially gory they're handled with flair and pack a decent vicious punch, we may not see gruesome detail but there's vigorous stabbing with a bit of blood and a nice nod to Tenebrae, all nicely edited for sharp and shocking punch (by Bava credited as John Old Jr.). Backed up with a cool pulsing score from Claudio Simonetti and making good use of some cool locations Bava makes each one count, though he lacks the genius of his father or the flowing technical prowess of the best in the genre he skillfully builds suspense and gets in some cool shots, like a top down view from the heights of a theatre. The underwritten cast do their best, with Valeria D'Obici coming off best as a committed criminal psychologist, edgy but likable she makes the strongest impression. Paolo Malco is dour inspector, stolidly by the book and watchable if a little dull. Leonardo Treviglio is a decent suspect with a shifty, unwholesome air about him and things are mostly rounded out by various young lovelies including Lara Wendell who brighten the screen with looks if not much in the way of presence. No nudity, a shame because it probably would have pushed things up a notch. Like I mentioned though the finale rocks, suspenseful stalking in a hotel with a couple of decent shocks leading to a decidedly silly reveal that doesn't really make sense in the context but is ludicrous enough to please. Altogether this is pretty cool stuff and worth your time, though only truly recommended to giallo aficionados

Boring characters and story, bad acting and even more stupid plot twist, "Midnight Killer" is a below average movie that captures everything that could go wrong with a giallo movie. It isn't completely unwatchable, but I would lie if I told you I wasn't happy when it finally ended. There is that scene with electric mixer, so that's at least something funny to ease your pain. 5/10! I don't recommend it to anyone.