If New York ripper was the most extreme in giallo during the eighties, Murder-Rock (or the wittier title, Slashdance!) is the return of the classy, subtle murder mystery - but with a heavy dose of the fashion of the time and a very cheesy, but catchy, score by Keith Emerson. Like several of the films after NYR,it seems like Fulci wanted to show that he could tell a story without excessive use of graphic violence and gore. Or, like I suggested yesterday, was that movie just a try to self-destruct his own career? Murder-Rock is by far one of his most underrated films ever, maybe in all the genre cinema of Italy during this period. It’s cheese, but it’s a tour-de-force for Fulci, showing all his storytelling talents with a pretty sharp - but generic - script and an amazing visual display of tricks of the trade, without becoming gimmicky. Here’s the synopsis I wrote in a review five years ago:
In a New York-based dance school a bunch of young girls tries to get a professional dancer-career in the tough world of the shallow showbiz. And yes, they're trying... but not for long... One night a girl is murdered by a killer in black gloves! Slowly and bloodless, a long needle through the heart. After a very brief period of sorrow the girls are back in competition mode again, ready to be number one! Inspector Borges (an excellent Cosimo Cinieri) begins to unravel the case and dig up more and more strange circumstances under the seemingly nice and handsome facade. But the killer continues to kill off competition and the question is who it is: the dirty old principal, the bitter dance coach, the lame sound technician, the jealous boyfriend, another student or just the one you least expect it to be?
(The worst thing writing reviews is the synopsis, I hate Hate HATE doing that!)
There’s actually few films by Fulci who feels so though-through visually. Maybe The Psychic and Lizard in a Woman’s Skin, but he loves to experiment, to go outside the box of filmmaking which often results is very interesting films regarding cinematography, editing and story. Murder-Rock seems to be a try to be strictly commercial, but without losing the integrity. Fulci have taken a step back, looked at the scene from a distance and come up with simple, stylish solutions. Everything is beautifully shot and I can’t even imagine the pleasure of working as an actor in this film. Everyone looks good and the creativity of the camera without going chaotic is wonderful. The only part I think works less good is the beginning, a couple of boys dancing breakdance to a silly disco song by Emerson, which seems shot by second unit and feels quite sloppy and well, it doesn’t belong in an otherwise very stylish film.
Carrying the film is also Cosimo Cinieri as Lt. Borges, quite the opposite from the grey, depressed Dr. Lodge in The New York Ripper. Except one instance of violence, Borges is a calm and almost cuddly cop who without even moving an eyebrow starts to hunt down the killer. Olga Karlatos as Candice, the dance teacher, who together with an alcoholic ex-male model (an equally good Ray Lovelock), also makes a very fine performance.
The mystery itself is not bad at all, but don’t expect any gore or blood. It’s a very dry movie, even if the kills have as sadistic touch over them - but they serve a purpose and does that well. The story and cinematography easily makes the film worth watching even if it doesn’t deliver on the gore-front. I would dare to say that this one of Fulci’s finest moments after proudly going to far with slicing up the Big Apple a few years earlier. This time he does it again, but more mature and with an elegant euro-twist on the slasher genre that at the time was dying a painful death. Sometimes it takes a giallo to show them ‘mericans how to do it properly!
"(or the wittier title, Slashdance!)"
Best title ever...hahahhahahhah...I hope Maniac by Michael Sembello, made it into this film.
http://youtu.be/8NjbGr2nk2c
"(The worst thing writing reviews is the synopsis, I hate Hate HATE doing that!)"
I always thought you were good at writing them.
"Fulci have taken a step back, looked at the scene from a distance and come up with simple, stylish solutions."
Maybe Fulci was inspired by other filmmakers in the 80´s....like Lyne, Scott, Besson etc.
Cinéma du look movement, and all of that jazz?
"This time he does it again, but more mature and with an elegant euro-twist on the slasher genre that at the time was dying a painful death. Sometimes it takes a giallo to show them ‘mericans how to do it properly!"
Just the witty international title makes me want to see it......good review and thanks.
Posted by: Megatron | April 29, 2014 at 00:21