The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972)

Day 50 of Sobriety.   

The Case of the Bloody Iris is an Italian giallo by a director called Giuliano Carnimeo, who I am totally unfamiliar with. Looking at his filmography, I realized that is probably because he mainly seems to have directed westerns and comedies—not much on the way of horror or gialli. I was, though, familiar with a couple of the faces that appeared in the movie, notably Edwige Fenech who always adds a bit of sparkle to anything that she appears in.

In the film, Fenech plays a model (and former member of a weird sex cult) who moves into an apartment whose former female occupants were bumped off by a masked serial killer. I mean, as a young woman, why would you have any reservations about moving into an apartment like that?? Therein lies the biggest problem with The Case of the Bloody Iris: none of the characters in the film are remotely credible.

Or is that really such a negative? After all, the same could be said for many gialli, and many horror films too, but it is something that really struck me when I was watching this film. Several characters have what would usually be highly traumatic experiences, and then just go about their lives as normal—or even make a joke about it. Fenech’s character continues to live in the apartment even after she has been attacked by the masked assailant!

 

But, for me at least, a logical plot is never really the reason to watch a giallo, it is usually about atmosphere or period style and charm. The Case of the Bloody Iris certainly delivers on the latter. It is well photographed, has a funky soundtrack (by Bruno Nicolai), and the attractive female cast members all have incredible wardrobes. So, while this is not a movie that I could really recommend for plot, acting, or logic, it does have its good qualities and I did enjoy it. This may actually be a film that fares better on second viewing—when I am not trying in earnest to engage with the rather silly plot.