Note: This 2 disc, Blu-ray/DVD combo release is now available courtesy of Arrow Video.
If you enjoy horror and thriller features of the 70s, then you’re no doubt familiar with the Italian “giallo” flick. They were essentially pulpy mystery stories with a killer stalking various targets (often women who looked like they had stepped off of a modeling runway), while detectives attempt to solve the crimes. Often, the murders were elaborately choreographed and visually striking, adding some novelty to the otherwise simple stories. Arrow Films have delivered a Blu-ray of one of these lesser known “giallo” film, The Bloodstained Butterfly.
While these types of movies have been around since the 60s, Dario Argento’s The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (1970) really put them on the map. When it was released in Italy, it was such a massive success that the following year more than 20 films in the same mold were produced. This effort comes from filmmaker Duccio Tessari, known more for his work on Spaghetti Westerns and Sword and Sandal pics than horror, and it shows on this effort.
The story revolves around the strange murder of a 17-year-old teenager at a public park. Her body is discovered by kids almost immediately, leading to all sorts of characters getting involved and attempting to chase down anyone in a hurry to leave the area. Local soccer sportscaster/TV personality Alessandro Marchi (Giancarlo Sbragia) is quickly identified as a suspect and it isn’t long before police charge the baffled man with murder. But after two more killings follow, investigators wonder who the real culprit is.
There are plenty of suspects. It doesn’t help that Marchi’s wife Maria (Ida Galli) has started an affair with his lawyer, or that his daughter Sarah (Wendy D’Olive) starts a relationship with another student present at the crime scene, Giorgio (Helmut Berger). He’s an odd one; an intense musician who goes a bit batty whenever he hears the music of Tchaikovski.
The end result feels somewhat like a strange cross between a “giallo” and a police/courtroom procedural. It’s clear that Tessari wasn’t quite ready to follow the Argento formula. So, the movie is not as interested in the murder scenes (they’re essentially offscreen) as it is with the investigation and trial that follows. By today’s standards, it’s slowly paced, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some noteworthy elements. The movie attempts to develop the characters more than expected, even if their motives are left cloudy until the close.
Even if it isn’t as visceral as many other titles in its subgenre, there are some impressive visuals to get one through these slow spells. The widescreen photography and long takes around beautiful exteriors are always striking to look at. At there’s some really nicely backlit moments as detective process the murder scene in the rain. The film features a few funny quirks, including an amusing opening that introduces several characters with title cards as they go about their routine (again, it looks more like a photo shoot than actual candid moments, but it’s fun to watch). The image quality on the Blu-ray is exceptional; the movie looks consistently clean and sharp throughout.
It may not be have been particularly memorable were it not for the climax and finale. In several of these genre movies, it’s easy to figure out who’s responsible and when it isn’t the solution is sometimes completely nonsensical. So at least this story ends on a high note. The reveal is something that I can’t recall having seen in any Italian flick from its era. It’s an unusual and surprising finale and one that stays with you. I’ll admit it; this one completely fooled me. It also allows for some interesting reflection about some of the behavior and events that preceded close, and it all appears to tie in perfectly. A strong ending really helps this effort to stand out.
An additional benefit is that both the Italian and English language versions are present on the disc, so you can watch it with subtitles or with the funky dubbing. That’s a great feature that all of Arrow’s releases appear to be including. And there are more incredible extras. Besides a fascinatingly bizarre intro from co-star Berger and a commentary track, there is a lengthy feature on the history of the “giallo” that may leave many people adding titles to their movie cues on Netflix. There’s also an hour long interview with co-star. It’s jam-packed with bonuses that should please any fan of this Italian subgenre.
The Bloodstained Butterfly doesn’t exactly stand out as a classic like Deep Red (1975), but it’s an intriguing step in the developing “giallo” genre that offers a slightly different approach to the material. Even without the elaborate deaths, this is an above average effort and offers a wild, yet plausible resolution to its series of murders. If you’re a patient viewer and fan of the genre, it’s a worthwhile viewing.