Five Women for the Killer (1974)

Thriller about a reporter who comes home from an overseas assignment to find his baby in the hospital and his wife dead. The baby isn't his, the reporter learns from his doctor friend Lydia... See full summary »

Director:

Stelvio Massi

Writers:

Gianfranco Clerici, Roberto Gianviti

Stars:

Francis Matthews, Pascale Rivault, Giorgio Albertazzi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Francis Matthews	...	Giorgio Pisani
Pascale Rivault	...	Dr. Lidia Franzi (as Pascal Rivault)
Giorgio Albertazzi	...	Professor Aldo Betti
Howard Ross	...	Police Commissioner
Katia Christine	...	Alba Galli
Catherine Diamant	...	Oriana
Gabriella Lepori	...	Sofia
Maria Cumani Quasimodo	...	Marta
Alessandro Quasimodo	...	Fabrizio
Tom Felleghy	...	Newspaper Editor-in-Chief (as Tom Felleghi)
Lia Bresciani
Carla Mancini
Lorenzo Piani
Ennia Rossetto
Milva Bonamone	...	(as Milvia Bonamore)

Storyline

Thriller about a reporter who comes home from an overseas assignment to find his baby in the hospital and his wife dead. The baby isn't his, the reporter learns from his doctor friend Lydia Franzi, as he is quite sterile. Reporter Giorgio and Lydia soon become lovers, and she narrowly escapes the brutal hands of the murderer (or murderers) who claims several other victims in shockingly violent fashion.

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Plot Keywords:

giallo | murder of a nude woman | nudity | woman in jeopardy | reporter | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

4 December 1974 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Amar Foi a Sua Perdição

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Film La Bouette, Thousand Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Competent if unspectacular thriller

A writer's wife dies giving birth prematurely. The child is placed in a health clinic. It is there that the writer learns he is sterile. Soon after, pregnant women begin to be killed, all of whom either crossed the writer's path or are related to the clinic where the writer's child is recovering. The police suspect the writer. Is he the killer? Five Women for the Killer is a competently made Italian thriller (a giallo). The film lacks the baroque style of the best of the genre and most of the murders occur off screen. Furthermore, while the film has its moments of graphicness, it does not quite revel in the sleaze like some of its peers. Still, the film is a worthwhile view for a few reasons.

First, the film successfully utilizes the stand-by of the clue that can't be remembered. The protagonist has seen something that he cannot remember, but he knows it's important. In some movies (like Deep Red), the clue is rather illogically recalled, but, here, both the clue and its recall are believable (and can be spotted by close watching viewers).

Second, the film's plot tries to be a mystery that can be solved through clues. The film plays fair with its mystery, and even provides something of a twist at the end.

Third, although the killer wears gloves, they are not black!

Few will regard 5 Women for the Killer as a must see. However, the film generally holds interest. Fans of Euro-thrillers might want to give it a try.