The Bloodstained Shadow (1978)

After seeing the high-fashion styling of the Giallo Nothing Underneath on Video yesterday,I got in the mood to play one of the Gialli DVDs that has been waiting for a viewing. Reading about the title for a number of years,I decided it was time to clean the blood from the shadow.View on the film:Caught off-guard by the producer demanding he makes a second Giallo straight away, co-writer/ (with Domenico Malan and Marisa Andalò) director Antonio Bido decision to turn an unpublished short story from a friend of his wife into a script gives the mystery a novel-like spine,via the film being divided between clues to the killer,and a rustic slice of life, showcasing the daily rituals between Don Paolo and his flock. Whilst sadly dipping into some of the worst stereotype of the genre, (they can't just be a killer,they have to be gay and a child abuser as well!) and going for a low body count, the writers build up the terror by going for a sub-section of Giallo based in the rural wilderness, where the viciousness of block glove murders is matched by an extremely cynical take on religion, and a dissection at the suspicions that the locals view all outsiders with.Limiting the number of set-pieces, Bido & cinematographer Mario Vulpiani makes each of them count by expanding on the brittle mood of the script,the stylishly first-person tracking shots are lit by grisly deaths from someone getting shoved face first into a fire,to a final tribute towards Don't Torture a Duckling. Cleverly using Murano to stand in for Venice,and having Stelvio Cipriani and Goblin both work on the great brooding score, Bido and Vulpiani give their Giallo a harsh Film Noir appearance,in thick lines of bloodstained shadows and rooms covered in decaying green creating a Jack the Ripper era vibe, along with Bido keeping the tracking shots narrow to subtly express the closed-off,isolated state of the town.Whilst most kept from getting fully involved in the mystery, sexy Stefania Casini gives a very good performance as Sellani,who Casini uses to offer the lone glimpse of warmth in the murky Giallo waters. Unable to rub a fractured memory away,Lino Capolicchio gives a terrific performance as D'Archangelo, thanks to Capolicchio capturing D'Archangelo awkwardness as an outsider around the locals and his god-fearing brother Paolo, (played by an excellent Craig Hill) which simmers into a mature feeling of doubt over how the town is run,as D'Archangelo steps into the bloodstained shadow.

The Blood Stained Shadow is the second – and last - giallo that Antonio Bido directed. His other one was Watch Me When I Kill (a.k.a. The Cat's Victims). While Bido may never be considered one of the masters of the genre, I actually think his two efforts are rather good and at the very least he should be considered one of the best purveyors of the genre in the late 70's. There are some aspects that do stand out in Bido's gialli, making them distinctive. Firstly, there is a somewhat slightly more serious tone and secondly, and most significantly, both films dispense with young sexy women as murder victims. In fact, in both movies it's middle aged characters that end up as the killer's targets. It might not sound like much to some but it is highly unusual, and both of Bido's gialli follow the same pattern. So hats off to the director for being a little bit different. Other than an obligatory sex scene, The Blood Stained Shadow has really no sleaze factor at all.The story begins with a mysterious slow-motion murder of a young girl. Several years later a maths teacher returns to his home town, where upon a series of murders ensues. Events seem to revolve around a séance group of local bad eggs.This is another one of those occasional gialli that is set in Venice. The off-season spookiness of the canal streets was also used to good effect in films such as Don't Look Now and Who Saw Her Die? This city does give off a unique ambiance, which is once again utilised well. The film also includes several other odd details in its plot that will be familiar to fans of gialli, such as the weird painting, the retarded boy in the cellar and the present being governed by a terrible event from the past. All of this is put together to construct a film which, while possibly a bit overlong, has a mystery that does actually work in that it isn't too obvious where it's going and there are some decent red herrings sprinkled throughout.Lino Capolicchio leads the picture. Many of you will be familiar with him from his turn in Pupi Avati's stand-out giallo The House with Laughing Windows. He's an interesting leading man. He's doesn't have the machismo of a Franco Nero, or the shiftiness of a Tomas Milian nor is he as suave as Jean Sorel. He plays characters a little more nerdy, which isn't so common in giallo leading men. He's good and is definitely a good choice for this more serious minded example of the genre. His leading lady is Stefania Cassini, most famous for her turn in Suspiria. I find her really very attractive and a good enough actress. Unfortunately, like here, she is normally dubbed into English by voice actresses. This is a mistake, as anyone who has seen the cult movie Blood for Dracula can confirm she has a beautiful, extremely heavy Italian accent that sounds simply divine. Ah well! The other significant contribution is the music. Stelvio Cipriani is the named composer but seemingly the legendary prog-rock outfit Goblin were key collaborators. It does sound a little Goblinesque at times - though not as good as their usual output to be fair. Still, it's a good soundtrack overall.The Blood Stained Shadow is definitely recommended to giallo enthusiasts.

Really not much to say about this movie, other than that's a pretty standard Giallo-flick that doesn't do an awful lot wrong but also doesn't do anything too exciting or original with its concept either.Oh yes, this is a typical Giallo alright. All of the usual ingredients are present in this, so this movie still remains a pretty good watch for the fans of the genre. However even in that regard, the movie just isn't the most exciting one, due to its lacking pace. The movie can get slow at certain points but it also doesn't help much that the movie at no point ever gets exciting or original. Even the killings are being somewhat of a disappointment to watch, especially also if you are a gore-lover.Of course it hasn't got the most tight story but this is pretty normal for a genre movie like this one. It does basically everything for its tension and mystery and doesn't care too much if this all in the end also will still makes sense for the rest of the movie. It's a movie that gets sidetracked quite often, which is also part of the reason why the movie gets a bit slow at times. The surprises that are in it are quite enjoyable and at least it's not a movie in which you can see from miles away who the killer at the end will turn out to be.It isn't an exceptionally well made movie but at least it also isn't an horrible one. It simply serves its purpose well enough and is therefore still a perfectly watchable movie within its genre.6/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

"The Bloodstained Shadow" is a film that requires patience. Had I not seen several giallos already, I might have fallen asleep in parts of this one. That being said, for giallo fans, this one is a worthy addition to your collection.It starts out with a professor going back to his hometown, a small Italian island, and reuniting with his brother, a priest. The two become entangled in a web of murder and deception and it is somehow linked to the murder of a young girl year earlier. The setting is remarkable, the music is great and the acting is over par.Then, we have the 'required' giallo elements. A love story. A suspect. Two suspects. Red herrings. Vague clues. Flashbacks. It gets a little ridiculous. By the time we find out who the killer is, (the first person I guessed,) we're a little worn out. There is a cheap shot which I cannot reveal because I'd give away the movie, but lets just say it's not fair to the viewer.All being said, a really good ambiance and awesome setting give this film some merit. I'd recommend it to a hardcore giallo fan.PS: now we know where the Blue Underground theme song comes from.6 out of 10, kids.