Il rosso segno della follia (1970)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Mario Bava (screenplay)
Santiago Moncada (writer)

Release Date:

9 February 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Fantasy

Plot:

A bridal design shop owner kills various young brides-to-be in an attempt to unlock a repressed childhood trauma that's causing him to commit murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Bride | Killer | Ghost | Trauma

Cast

Stephen Forsyth	...	John Harrington
Dagmar Lassander	...	Helen Wood
Laura Betti	...	Mildred Harrington
Jesús Puente	...	Inspector Russell
Femi Benussi	...	Alice Norton
Antonia Mas	...	Louise
Luciano Pigozzi	...	Vences (as Alan Collin)
Gérard Tichy	...	Dr. Kalleway
Verónica Llimera	...	Betsy
Pasquale Fortunato	...	Club Waiter
José Ignacio Abadal	...	Kane
Silvia Lienas	...	Vicky
Montserrat Riva	...	Bride on Train

Also Known As:

An Axe for the Honeymoon (International: English title) (informal literal title)
Blood Brides (UK)
Hatchet for the Honeymoon (USA)
The Red Mark of Madness
The Red Sign of Madness
Un hacha para la luna de miel (Spain)
Un'accetta per la luna di miele (Italy)

Runtime:

105 min | Spain:83 min

Country:

Italy | Spain

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 (re-rating) | Italy:VM18 | UK:X | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:Unrated | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Manuel Caño Sanciriaco

Trivia:

Director Mario Bava created the elaborate animated collage for the films opening credits.

Quotes:

John Harrington: My name is John Harrington. I'm 30 years old. I'm a paranoiac. Paranoiac. An enchanting word, so civilized, full of possibilities. The truth is, I am completely mad. The realization which annoys me at first, but is now amusing to me. Quite amusing. Nobody suspects I am a madman. A dangerous murderer. Not Mildred, my wife. Nor the employees of my fashion center. Nor of course my customers.
[scoops a fly out of his drink]
John Harrington: Poor little fly. Why are you so daring? You're so fragile? Yet you're born, you reproduce yourself, and you die like man. The difference is you don't think. And, you don't need to remember. You don't fear death because you ignore it. You're insignificant life is a mere accident...

Movie Connections:

Features I tre volti della paura (1963)

Bava's Brilliant Cinematic Touches Keeps It Alive

Bizarre serial killer movie (with supernatural undertones) can be seen as a rather curious change of pace for horror maestro Mario Bava. The film revolves around a young rich man who has the nasty habit of killing women during their honeymoons. It is interesting to see how Bava tones down his customary visual tricks, emphasizing plot and characterizations instead. Truth to be told, the experiment does not work well. The film comes across as being lowbrow Hitchcock, not top tier Bava. But the director does create a few creepy sequences that are simply brilliant. And the film has a wicked sense of humor that I found irresistible (love the 'dripping blood' scene). Laura Betti ("1900") is a hoot in a small but pivotal role. If you liked Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom" or William Wyler's "The Collector", you will probably like this bizarre offering from the always-ingenious director Bava.