A couple of years ago I was, as usual, in Germany together with Cinezilla-Jason and Rubbermonsterfetishism-Jocke to visit Weekend of Horrors. One of the guests, who would be there just to sell and sign his new movie, was Luigi Pastore - and what was offered was the latest, newest and coolest Italian murder mystery; Symphony in Blood Red. I was intrigued, because I’ve always been interested in new films in this genre. I’m a big fan of murder mysteries and especially bloody Italian ones. So we watched it together, the limited signed edition, and was extremely disappointed. But the film has been lurking in my collection ever since and I decided to give it a spin again. Maybe I could see it from a different view this time?
A serial killer is stalking Rome. He’s filming everything he does and seems to have no logic in what he’s doing. One day it’s a whore, the next day a priest, a hunter, a stripper, a loving couple… everyone is a possible victim in his world. We follow him from one kill to another, maybe with hints of his past - and his goal...
I really admire Luigi Pastore and Symphony in Blood Red, I really do. But I’m not that especially fond of it. Not saying it’s not worth watching and Pastore have an eye for the visuals and the acting is fine, but when it comes to the script I personally would have wished something more stronger, something more… mainstream. Yeah, mainstream. The biggest issue with this neo-Giallo is how it becomes pretentious instead of entertaining.The story falls apart and it feels more like a series of random scenes barely hanging together. That might have been the point from the beginning, because as a Giallo it’s not the typical one where there’s a mystery to be solved - this is more a dive into the mind of a serial killer, who happens to behave like the cinematic murderers of the Italian seventies we love so much. It’s also shot that way, a lot of POV and gory, brutal killings, naked ladies and a pumping score by Claudio Simonetti.
Pastore starts several very intriguing storylines, but leaves them one after another to focus on something else. That’s a damn pity, because Pastore has a lot of talent. This is an ambitious film, often gorgeous shot and with good visual storytelling. Often the acting in these modern murder mysteries of Italy can be very bad, but here there’s a good cast and everyone does a decent job. I like that Pastore wants to do something else than what’s expected of the genre, but maybe it becomes a bit underwhelming when everything around it so much says it will be a good, classic old-fashioned Giallo. Much like Amer, which a good movie, but also probably disappointed some fanboys out there by being a bit too abstract to be considered a proper, typical genre movie.
When I first watched Symphony in Blood Red I was disappointed. I expected so much and got something else. Now, the second time, it’s a better movie. I knew what was coming and it felt easier watch it until the end. The kills are often very bloody and sometimes graphic, the music is great - a lot better than what Simonetti did on Dracula 3D (which might be the WORST music ever used in a film) and Luigi Pastore knows how to tell his story, even if it’s a bit too abstract. He could have skipped the dolls, which just felt annoying - so in the end, that’s my biggest complaint about it.
I can’t wait to see what this director has up his sleeve next time. I hope it will be another Giallo, but with a better, more coherent, screenplay.
"But the film has been lurking in my collection ever since and I decided to give it a spin again. Maybe I could see it from a different view this time?"
Yeah, you might have change of heart.
"The biggest issue with this neo-Giallo is how it becomes pretentious instead of entertaining."
A little influence from arthouse cinema?
"brutal killings, naked ladies"
Yummy!
"When I first watched Symphony in Blood Red I was disappointed. I expected so much and got something else. Now, the second time, it’s a better movie."
I haven´t seen any of these neogiallis....good review and thanks Fred.
Posted by: Megatron | April 26, 2014 at 03:53
Megatron is such a loser lol
Posted by: Losertron | March 16, 2015 at 10:18