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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Guido Barlocci	...	John Harrington as a boy (uncredited)
Bruno Boschetti	...	(uncredited)
Elina De Witt	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Mario Bava

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mario Bava		screenplay
Santiago Moncada		writer

Produced by
Manuel Caño	....	producer

Original Music by
Sante Maria Romitelli

Cinematography by
Mario Bava

Film Editing by
Soledad López

Production Design by
Jesus Maria Herrero
Giulia Mafai

Makeup Department
Elisa Aspachs	....	makeup artist
Hipólita López	....	hair stylist
Piero Mecacci	....	makeup artist
Emilia Zachini	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Graziano Fabiani	....	assistant production manager
Enzo Ferla	....	unit production manager
Jaime Fernandez	....	production manager
José Pedro Villanueva	....	assistant production manager (as Pedro Villanueva)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lamberto Bava	....	assistant director
Mario Bianchi	....	second unit director
Ricardo Walker	....	assistant director

Art Department
Giuseppe Aldrovandi	....	assistant art director
Gianna Spirito	....	assistant decorator

Sound Department
Pietro Ortolani	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Jose Adrian	....	still photographer
Marcello Anconetani	....	assistant camera
Gianlorenzo Battaglia	....	assistant camera (as Gian Lorenzo Battaglia)
Avelino Carla	....	assistant camera
Jaime Deu Casas	....	camera operator
Giuseppe Parrabano	....	still photographer
Antonio Rinaldi	....	camera operator
Emilio Varriano	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nadia Fabriani	....	set costumer
Montserrat Riba Vidal	....	bridal gowns
José María Tresserra	....	bridal gowns

Editorial Department
Liliana Serra	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Luigi Zito	....	conductor

Other crew
Marisa Agostini	....	script supervisor
Antonio Angrisano	....	production secretary
Luigi Biamonte	....	title designer
Miro Grisanti	....	title designer
Patrizia Zulini	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Manuel Caño Sanciriaco
• Mercury Films
• Pan Latina Films
• Películas Ibarra y Cía.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Ibérica S.A. (1970) (Spain) (theatrical)
• G.G.P. Releasing Company (1974) (USA) (theatrical) (English dubbed)
• Charter Entertainment (video)
• Eagle Pictures (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Media Home Entertainment (video)
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (video)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Timeless Video (video)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• VCI Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack

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:

The Harrington's bed was originally used as a set piece in an earlier Bava film, 1963's Black Sabbath.

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:

Referenced in American Psycho (2000)

Not one of Bava's finest but still a very entertaining chiller

"Hatchet for the Honeymoon" isn't among Mario Bava's finest films but its still mandatory viewing for any admirer of the legendary stylist. The plot line is very novel and clever. A bridal designer murders his models due to a suppressed childhood trauma. He eventually slays his overbearing wife. However, half way through, the film takes a twist and has the psycho's wife return from the grave. Unlike many other similar stories, the man can't see his deceased wife but everyone else can. Another original aspect of the film is its use of a suave businessman as a serial killer, which predates "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis by two decades.

Mario Bava's direction is absolutely exquisite as usual. His use of colors is unparalleled by any other filmmaker out there. He knows how to create a haunting Gothic atmosphere like none other. His films just exude style and class not often found in this kind of grade-b entertainment. The main problem however is that, unlike Bava's finest horror films, this is never really scary or even suspenseful. Plus, the acting is pretty weak, especially the wooden Steven Forsyth in the lead role. Still, if viewed as a very dark comedy, this is highly enjoyable. (7/10)