This is the last more ‘traditional’ giallo film that Fulci made following A Lizard in a Woman's Skin and Don't Torture a Duckling, before embracing the full insanity gore-fest known as Zombie a couple of years later. It is a natural progression with a bit of a supernatural bent. But obviously BEFORE he found his Eye Guy, because here? No eye gougings. Sad.
Opening scene at the Cliffs of Dover, 1959. Cut to Florence, Italy, same day. Tragics BeFall. Cut ahead 18 years later. Let’s just say from only ONE of the previous scenes’ perspectives. Some recent newlweds in a rather upscale European castle-like environment. He off in his private plane, she’s left.. to her own devices. Virginia is kinda still Clairvoyent, as the first scenes implied. And her new surroundings seem a little...familiar. Nothing a pick-axe through this poorly-patched wall can’t fix! And then the shenanigans begin.
It’s pretty straight-forward as the recent bride literally starts finding skeletons in the closet, so to speak. The splash of paranormal gives it a little extra spin to the giallo thing, while providing supernatural aspect too. It’s ok. A few cool shots, but mostly just a slightly paranormal whodunnit kinda deal. That Jennifer O’Neill in the lead though? She’s what one could properly describe as a Classy Dame. Despite all the tropey segues, she does a good job pulling it off in a decent manner. A little slow though. And somewhat snoozy on the tensions. Could have used at least one eye-gouging. Not even a pair, one would have been good.
