La sorella di Ursula (1978)

Director:

Enzo Milioni

Writer:

Enzo Milioni (writer)

Release Date:

18 October 1978 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Romance | Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Passion | Fondling | Pubic Hair | Blonde | Unfaithfulness

Cast

Barbara Magnolfi	...	Ursula Beyne
Stefania D'Amario	...	Dagmar Beyne
Vanni Materassi	...	Roberto
Marc Porel	...	Filippo / Gianni Nardi
Anna Zinnemann	...	Vanessa
Antiniska Nemour	...	Jenny
Yvonne Harlow	...	Stella Shining
Giancarlo Zanetti
Alice Gherardi
Roberto De Ruggeriis

Also Known As:

Curse of Ursula
The Sister of Ursula

Runtime:

Italy:91 min (uncut version)

Country:

Italy

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:X

Filming Locations:

Amalfi, Salerno, Campania, Italy

Company:

Supercine

Quotes:

Ursula Beyne: You just like being shagged, you bitch!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Father of Ursula (2008) (V)

Sordid and sleazy...but not really up to much

Well, it's safe to say that The Curse of Ursula isn't the greatest Giallo ever made, but there's plenty of sex and sleaze, and the whole thing is at least enjoyable. The Curse of Ursula came rather late on in the Giallo cycle - in fact, it had pretty much dried up by the time this film came along, and as such; it would seem that writer-director Enzo Milioni was extremely keen to put as much sex and nudity into the film as possible to ensure that people would watch it; and while this sort of stuff isn't really what I watch Giallo for, it doesn't go amiss in a film such as this, which has little in the way of a plot. As the title suggests, the film focuses on a woman called Ursula. Along with her sister Dagmar, she finds herself at a hotel, where the sisters are looking for their mother, believing she has a right to some inheritance left by their father. However, a vicious psychopath, who uses a dildo to murder his (female) victims has also taken up residence at the hotel, and begins dispatching of everyone who has sex...

I had heard that this film was particularly sordid, and while I can certainly see why that is said, I have to say I was expecting more from it...though admittedly, I probably do watch a bit too much of this stuff! Sex fuelled Giallo's got more common towards the end of the cycle, which is unfortunate as the style of the earlier films was lost. As well as the sex, this film also features some pretty gruesome death scenes, which is nice but it does seem like director Enzo Milioni (with his first feature) is trying to force the film down the audiences throats a little bit as everything is completely over the top. The plot takes a backseat to the sex and gore, and typically it is a rather dull affair. There isn't much to it after the foundations are laid down, and while the twist ending isn't too bad; I have to say I didn't really care about it. There is some style in the film, the way we only see the killer's eyes, for example, shows some attempt to build atmosphere, but overall; if you're looking for a great Giallo, you really shouldn't track this one down!