Il mostro

Intriguing Italian mix of comedy and giallo. We are closer to the Volonte thrillers than Dario Argento here.

Dorreli is a low rank journalist, with a desk next to the toilet at Tribuna Sera newspaper. His correspondence contains a serial killer's letters, which he exploits. Circulation jumps. It takes him a while to realise the identity of the killer.

While all this is happening, Johnnie neglects his red head son.

Top rank technicians on form, though Morricone has done more distinctive work. Formidable central performance and direction which manages to mix bad taste comedy, murder mystery and comment on contemporary press ethics, parenting and publicity.

This one is good enough to make the viewer wonder about all Zampa's other inaccessible films.