Murder Syndrome (1981)
"Murder obsession (Follia omicida)" (original title)

Michael is a successful actor, but he has a scandal in his past: at a tender age he knifed his father to death. He and his girlfriend Deborah go to his mother's for the weekend, and are ... See full summary »

Director:

Riccardo Freda

Writers:

Antonio Cesare Corti (screenplay), Antonio Cesare Corti (story),

Stars:

Stefano Patrizi, Martine Brochard, Henri Garcin

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Stefano Patrizi	...	Michael Stanford
Martine Brochard	...	Shirley
Henri Garcin	...	Hans Schwartz
Laura Gemser	...	Beryl
John Richardson	...	Oliver
Anita Strindberg	...	Glenda
Silvia Dionisio	...	Deborah
Fabrizio Moroni

Storyline

Michael is a successful actor, but he has a scandal in his past: at a tender age he knifed his father to death. He and his girlfriend Deborah go to his mother's for the weekend, and are joined by the director and others from a recent film project, who are given a rather cool reception by the superstitious housekeeper Oliver. Soon rude things begin happening to some of the guests, and Michael fears a repeat of his nightmare past is in progress.

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Plot Keywords:

past | fear | death | weekend | actor | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

24 February 1981 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Murder Syndrome

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dionysio Cinematografica, Société Nouvelle Cinévog

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Zombiethon (1986)

User Reviews

A summation of the Italian Golden Age of Horror

A group of filmmakers travel to the family home of the lead actor to scout locations. They are greeted by his disturbed mother and her sinister servant.

Maestro Freda's last feature is a baroque masterwork which indeed forms a kind of review of the entire Italian horror tradition from BLACK SUNDAY on. BLACK SUNDAY lead actor John Richardson appears as the servant in a possible nod to former Freda collaborator Mario Bava.

The story contains many elements from other horror films: PSYCHO, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, DEEP RED, but Freda tells the tale in an ornate style referencing classical art and music in his imagery and on the soundtrack. The acting is mediocre, but the carefully composed imagery makes up for it. Such hallucinatory visions as a clutch of bleeding skulls, a giant spider and black mass which resembles both a Dali painting and a Michaelangelo sculpture are indelible. Highly recommended for Italian horror and Freda fans. A very underrated film which shows the director still at the apex of his creative powers.