A Film about death that was sadly affected by it!
This is Fatal Frames, a 1996 Italian Film that attempts to be a (then) modern day Giallo. Does it succeed?
The Plot involves a handsome photographer with a dark past who goes to Italy to Direct a Music Video. It doesn't seem like its Director (Al Festa) was one himself, but IMDB is not always exact.
Two of his 4 Films as a Director do involve Musical Performers, so...maybe.
When a strange set of killings...that turn up no bodies happen upon his arrival, he's obviously a suspect. How does this relate to other crimes?
Is he guilty?
To find out (and I can't discuss the Film without its bonkers Ending), read on...
In the long, drawn-out Credit Sequence, we see an old guy watching a Snuff Film!
When some kid (his Son...I guess) walks in, he makes the kid watch!
Enough of that now.
In the Present (of either 1993 or 1996), this guy (who I've
seen a few times) is hired by his buddy to Direct a Music Video for an Italian Pop Star.
She's actually a real one, which makes me question all reality, since this is Fiction...but also she's using her real name and identity!
Two main things happen in the first Hour or so.
Random women around our Hero are killed in front of him, but then the bodies aren't found. The Killer only leaves behind video tapes.
Stefania- the Pop Star- sings Songs for her Music Video.
Such lovely filler.
The Cops work the case and even bring in an outside man from the FBI- Donald Pleasence.
This Casting will be important later, so take notes.
He says that similar killings happened recently in the US, including that of our Hero's Wife!
In a weird bit, the Subtitle Track and the English Dub don't agree on key details.
This lady is stated to be a Hooker in the Audio, but the Subtitles say otherwise!
Our Hero is going a little bit crazy, not helped by the fact that he seems to be haunted by a ghost who calls him a murderer.
He thinks the killings might be connected a Painter, so he goes to his barely marked grave and is confronted by...Angus Scrimm?!?
He acts crazy for a minute and that's it.
(They later imply he's a Ghost...or something, by showing his face on a Painting)
So, here's where the Pleasence thing comes in.
He shot his Scenes in 1993 during the bulk of Production. A funder of the Film suddenly dropped out and it took until 1995 to get the Film back on track.
By that point, Pleasence had died (right after filming Halloween 6).
To write him out, a Voice Double says that he's leaving to work on a case that popped back up.
In case you didn't get it, they literally
PLAY THE HALLOWEEN THEME and a Body Double walks away from the Phone.
Note the Poster visible on the left side of the (non-fatal) Frame.
Back in the Plot, our Hero tries to solve the case, using the only clue they have- the Killer's silhouette caught in one video.
Sidenote: The Killer's Silhouette is a great name for a Mystery Film!
Can he go full
Blow Out (Google it) and solve the case.
From here to the wrap up is SPOILERS, so skip if you want.
Ready?
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*
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He's confronted in the Studio by Stella and then...the previous Italian Victims (which includes Linea Quigley).
Huh?!?
Well, all of the Italian killings were fake- staged by the ladies and the Father of our Hero's dead Wife.
They knew that he was guilty (as they were all related to or dating the victims) and did ALL OF THIS to get him to confess.
I...I can't even be mad at a Plot Twist this ridiculous and silly!
The End.
A Film that is quite literally Style over Substance.
The Film is about a Music Video Director and is also shot with all of the bells and whistles.
It sure helps to distract from how generic the Plot, Setting and Killer are.
A masked killer who taunts Police with voice recordings- how innovative.
All of the Camera Tricks- Zooms, Tilts and Crane Shots- can only do so much.
The Film sure did appear to be cursed too, as the delay meant that Pleasence couldn't finish it. He wasn't alone, as another Actor- Rossano Brazzi (of Final Justice fame)- died in 1994 during the pause!
Throw in the fact that the 'Inspector' (from The Beyond) died in 1997 and, well, yikes!
Is the Film notable outside of its weird historical notoriety? Not so much.
I don't regret watching this insane and silly Film, even if it did drag quite a bit to get to 2 hours.
Was this a better send-off for Pleasence than just dying immediately off-screen in Halloween 6?
You decide!
Next up, another Film that I only own digitally (and 100% legally). Is this infamous 1960s Sci-Fi Film as dumb as promised? Stay tuned...
The Plot hinges upon a pair of massive coincidences, so bear with me...
The Director (who puts the DICk in Director) fires the lady, but then keeps her around later.
Said Killer eventually kills and takes the place of Brett, the guy in the killer's outfit.
The killer manages to take out the new Lead Actress under the guise of rehearsal, before being chased off.
Meanwhile, two Cops sit outside uselessly.
A fun, stylish Film that feels both very '80s and very Italian.