Cast:
Director:
Dario Argento
Writer:
Dario Argento (screenplay),
Stars:
Michael Brandon, Mimsy Farmer, Jean-Pierre Marielle
Movie:
Argento finishes his first series of groundbreaking gialli with 'Four Flies on Grey Velvet', one of his most seldom seen horror movies.
'Four Flies' revolves around musician Roberto Tobias, played by Michael Brandon. On noticing that he is being followed by a mysterious man in a dark coat and glasses en route to a club one night, Roberto confronts the man, leading to a fevered chase into a disused theatre. A fight ensues between the two men, resulting in what appears to be the stalker's death. High above the murder scene, a creepily masked figure with a fixed smile takes incriminating pictures of Roberto and the apparent murder. What follows next is a game of cat and mouse between Roberto and the masked man, who begins blackmailing him, before killing those closest to him.
In terms of style, and the music composed by Ennio Morricone, the movie is a success. However, with regard to pace and story elements, it does drag for long stretches. Also Argento has a habit of adding uneasy humour and comic styling to his movies, more so here than his later Gothic nightmares. As an example of gialli, this is still a top notch release, despite whatever faults are inherent in the film.
Rating:
While it may be a minor work in Argento's oeuvre, 'Four Flies' is still an intriguing giallo, and one that should delight any horror fan.
Rating: