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 ...
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Title: Murder Syndrome (1981)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Stefano Patrizi | ... | Michael Stanford / William Stanford | |
| Martine Brochard | ... | Shirley Dyson | |
 |
Henri Garcin | ... | Hans Schwartz |
| Laura Gemser | ... | Beryl Fisher | |
| John Richardson | ... | Oliver | |
| Anita Strindberg | ... | Glenda Stanford | |
| Silvia Dionisio | ... | Deborah Jordan | |
|
|
Fabrizio Moroni | ||
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Plot Summary
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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. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
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Details
Language:
ItalianRelease Date:
24 February 1981 (Italy) See more »Also Known As:
Murder Syndrome See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
[All trivia items for this title are spoilers.] See more »Goofs
Obvious rubber dummy of Hans just before been hit by the ax. See more »Crazy Credits
The closing credits appear on a still photograph of the black magic book used for the black mass. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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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.