Un omicidio perfetto a termine di legge (1971)

Director:

Tonino Ricci

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (screenplay)
Aldo Crudo (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 August 1971 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Giallo | Murder

Cast

Philippe Leroy	...	Marco Breda
Elga Andersen	...	Monica Breda
Ivan Rassimov	...	Burt
Rosanna Yanni	...	Terry Povani
Franco Ressel	...	Tommy Brown
Rina Franchetti
Julio Peña	...	Inspector Baldini
Franco Fantasia	...	Professor Mauri
Giorgio Cerioni
Liana Del Balzo
Mario Morales
Carla Mancini	...	Lawyer's Secretary
Franco Balducci	...	Sante Foschi
Ferdinando Poggi		(as Nando Poggi)
Franco Marletta

Also Known As:

Cross Current (USA) (dubbed version)
Homicidio al límite de la ley (Spain)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Spain | Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Eurovision Cinematografica

Nothing special, but just about worthwhile Giallo

Cross Current features all the things that usually make Giallo's successful, but somehow it just doesn't gel together well and in spite of the gory murders and twisted plot, the film always feels like it isn't really going anywhere and that unfortunately harms it. Tonino Ricci directs with flair and style and this is a definite asset to the film. Cross Current has a lovely foreboding atmosphere and the way that the director keeps the focus on the lead characters helps to build claustrophobia and this helps to make sure that the film always remains interesting. The plot focuses on Marco, a boat racer who has an accident. He wakes up in hospital and finds out that he has to have brain surgery. After the operation, he begins recovering at home and is cared for by his wife Monica, his friend Tommy and a woman named Terry. Shortly into his recovery, people around his home start to get murdered; beginning with the gardener who had previously requested a private meeting with Marco. More murders follow and the police get involved...

It's a shame that this film wasn't better as some of the murders rival the best of the genre. The intestine spilling scene is excellent, while a slow motion sequence in which a woman is shot oozes coolness. But unfortunately it just doesn't gel together well and feels obvious that the director was trying to make a film that emulates the successful Giallo's of the time. The acting isn't bad, with experienced Italian film actor Philippe Leroy taking the lead role and doing well with it. Rosanna Yanni and Elga Andersen look nice as the female leads, while the always excellent Ivan Rassimov rounds off the central cast. The house in which most of the film is set dominates the atmosphere of the film and proves a good location for a film like this to be set in. It all builds down to a nice twisted ending which just about makes the rest of the film worthwhile. The final ten minutes are really well put together, and this may have been a classic if the rest of the film were as good. Overall, I can't really say that this is essential but, if you can find it, it's just about worth seeing.