My Dear Killer (1972)

A mysterious decapitation leads Inspector Peretti into a case of blackmail, deceit and the unsolved kidnapping of a young girl.

Director:

Tonino Valerii

Writers:

Roberto Leoni (screenplay), Franco Bucceri (screenplay)

Stars:

George Hilton, Salvo Randone, William Berger

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Hilton	...	Inspector Luca Peretti
Salvo Randone	...	Chief Marò
William Berger	...	Giorgio Canavese
Marilù Tolo	...	Dr. Anna Borgese
Manuel Zarzo	...	Brigadier Bozzi (as Manolo Zarzo)
Patty Shepard	...	Paola Rossi, the teacher
Piero Lulli	...	Alessandro Moroni
Helga Liné	...	Mrs. Paradisi
Tullio Valli	...	Oliviero Moroni
Dante Maggio	...	Mattia Guardapelle
Dana Ghia	...	Eleonora Moroni
Alfredo Mayo	...	Beniamino
Mónica Randall	...	Carla Moroni
Corrado Gaipa	...	Head of Insurance Company
Lara Wendel	...	Stefania Moroni (as Daniela Rachele Barnes)

Storyline

Following a mysterious decapitation (via mechanical digger) of an insurance investigator, Police Inspector Peretti is put onto the case. Slowly more people are found dead... a man supposedly commits suicide, a women is strangled, another attacked in her flat... but all the clues lead to an unsolved case of kidnapping and murder. Can Peretti find the murderer, if his major clue is a little girls drawing???

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Plot Keywords:

bare breasts | kidnapping | police | black gloved killer | subjective camera | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The only Giallo directed by Tonino Valerii, a filmmaker better known for numerous Spaghetti Westerns. He pays tribute to his roots in this film by having a character watch DJANGO on TV during a scene.

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Quotes

Paola Rossi, the teacher: Come in! I was just watching some terrible Westerns on television.

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Alternate Versions

The 1998 Salvation video was cut by 4 secs to edit a shot of a young naked girl at an art studio. The 2008 Shameless DVD is fully uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered - Volume 1 (2008)

User Reviews

My Complex & Sadist Killer!

Anyone who ever saw "My Dear Killer" is most likely to agree when I claim that it's nearly impossible to find another horror film with a more convoluted plot! I never thought I'd say this, but this movie almost exaggerates with the constant adding of new twists and complexity! "My Dear Killer", which is a giallo in the purest definition of the term, features nearly a dozen murder victims and an equal amount of suspects. Paying close attention to the development of the plot is difficult enough already, so guessing along for the killer's identity is pretty much out of the question. And yet, it's another wondrous example of Italy's finest horror sub genre, with brutal slaughters, controversial themes and great music! Giallo-regular George Hilton ("All the Colors of the Dark", "Case of the Bloody Iris") plays Peretti, a police detective charged with investigating the eerie murder of an insurance inspector. He was obviously getting too close to someone's dark secrets and, in order to solve the case; Peretti has carry on with the decapitated victim's research. All traces lead to the unsolved kidnapping and eventual murder of a young girl in the area. The killer clearly doesn't know how he is to getting caught, as he precautionary starts to eliminate everyone close to the case. Be advised that the above is a very vague description of the plot, as a more detailed summary would cover several pages. Apart from a few minor holes in the plot and a handful of illogicalness, "My Dear Killer" is a hugely compelling and intense murder-mystery. Especially the violence will appeal to hardcore horror fans, as the killer even uses circular saws and construction machinery! Tonino Valerii is not a very eminent Italian horror filmmaker (or at least not as eminent as, say, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci or Sergio Martino), but his directing is truly stylish and he obviously read the "big book of giallo-guidelines" carefully before he started making this movie. Highly recommended!

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

3 February 1972 (Italy)

Also Known As:

My Dear Killer

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

B.R.C. Produzione S.r.l., Kramot Cinematografica, Tecisa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1