My Dear Killer

Rating:
Summary: Weak Giallo (Minor Spoilers)
Review: A weak "giallo" thriller (from the early 1970s) as a detective finds himself constantly one step behind a killer covering his/her tracks after a kidnapping gone wrong. There are a couple semi-gruesome murders here, but there isn't much true suspense since our hero never seems to be in any danger, and, though perhaps I missed something, it seemed the killer could have been anyone among the groups of suspects.

I don't know the movie's history, but here it is presented in dubbed English. The anamorphic video is good considering the age of the title. Included on the disc are some trailers and interviews.

Rating:
Summary: Weak Giallo (Minor Spoilers)
Review: A weak "giallo" thriller (from the early 1970s) as a detective finds himself constantly one step behind a killer covering his/her tracks after a kidnapping gone wrong. There are a couple semi-gruesome murders here, but there isn't much true suspense since our hero never seems to be in any danger, and, though perhaps I missed something, it seemed the killer could have been anyone among the groups of suspects.

I don't know the movie's history, but here it is presented in dubbed English. The anamorphic video is good considering the age of the title. Included on the disc are some trailers and interviews.

Rating:
Summary: Weak Giallo (Minor Spoilers)
Review: A weak "giallo" thriller (from the early 1970s) as a detective finds himself constantly one step behind a killer covering his/her tracks after a kidnapping gone wrong. There are a couple semi-gruesome murders here, but there isn't much true suspense since our hero never seems to be in any danger, and, though perhaps I missed something, it seemed the killer could have been anyone among the groups of suspects.

I don't know the movie's history, but here it is presented in dubbed English. The anamorphic video is good considering the age of the title. Included on the disc are some trailers and interviews.

Rating:
Summary: Mundane Giallo
Review: MY DEAR KILLER (MIO CARO ASSASSINO , 1971): Police Inspector Perreti (George Hilton) investigates a series of bloody killings, all seemingly linked to an earlier kidnapping/murder of a young girl. The body count mounts as the black gloved assassin eliminates all those who seem to have acquired knowledge of a dark secret in his past. Finally, Perreti assembles a carefully chosen group of suspects in a small room in order to cleverly unmask the murderer.

An extremely minor giallo, MY DEAR KILLER is lacking in the genre's signature outrageous violence and kinky sex so dearly loved by fans of euro-trash. Only one of the killings (the one depicted on the DVD cover) has any of the nervy shock value expected from this type of film, and despite all the buildup its pretty much a throwaway of a scene. While competently directed by Tonino Valerii, a former assistant to Sergio Leone, and featuring a fine, tension-swelling Ennio Morricone score, the film suffers from an incredibly draggy pace and a deficit of the kind of fascinatingly quirky characters that usually populate such fare. Italian horror fans will surely be disappointed. That said, this mundane thriller just might be quaint enough to provide fairly diverting entertainment for connoisseurs of Agatha Christie-styled murder mysteries, as it contains all the expected clichés including the manner in which the killer's identity is ultimately revealed.

The Shriek Show DVD gives the film a very nice presentation, with a widescreen (1.85:1) transfer providing a decent showcase for cinematographer Manual Rojas' colorful imagery. Extras include two short interview segments with director Valerii and star George Hilton (who has aged remarkably well). Trailers for some other Shriek Show releases, including SPASMO, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE and SEVEN BLOOD STAINED SHADOWS, all of which are superior to MY DEAR KILLER in every way, are also included.

Rating:
Summary: Mundane Giallo
Review: MY DEAR KILLER (MIO CARO ASSASSINO , 1971): Police Inspector Perreti (George Hilton) investigates a series of bloody killings, all seemingly linked to an earlier kidnapping/murder of a young girl. The body count mounts as the black gloved assassin eliminates all those who seem to have acquired knowledge of a dark secret in his past. Finally, Perreti assembles a carefully chosen group of suspects in a small room in order to cleverly unmask the murderer.

An extremely minor giallo, MY DEAR KILLER is lacking in the genre's signature outrageous violence and kinky sex so dearly loved by fans of euro-trash. Only one of the killings (the one depicted on the DVD cover) has any of the nervy shock value expected from this type of film, and despite all the buildup its pretty much a throwaway of a scene. While competently directed by Tonino Valerii, a former assistant to Sergio Leone, and featuring a fine, tension-swelling Ennio Morricone score, the film suffers from an incredibly draggy pace and a deficit of the kind of fascinatingly quirky characters that usually populate such fare. Italian horror fans will surely be disappointed. That said, this mundane thriller just might be quaint enough to provide fairly diverting entertainment for connoisseurs of Agatha Christie-styled murder mysteries, as it contains all the expected clichés including the manner in which the killer's identity is ultimately revealed.

The Shriek Show DVD gives the film a very nice presentation, with a widescreen (1.85:1) transfer providing a decent showcase for cinematographer Manual Rojas' colorful imagery. Extras include two short interview segments with director Valerii and star George Hilton (who has aged remarkably well). Trailers for some other Shriek Show releases, including SPASMO, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE and SEVEN BLOOD STAINED SHADOWS, all of which are superior to MY DEAR KILLER in every way, are also included.

Rating:
Summary: Understated Giallo - Nice change of pace for diehards.
Review: Tonino Valerii's 1971 giallo "MY DEAR KILLER" is quite understated, leisurely paced, and a bit talky, but overall, it remains captivating and delivers a strong seamless progression of events that keep unravelling until the inevitable denouement. We all know that the "identity" of the killer in these things is the key ingredient in the mystery, but getting to that point is where the fun is. "My Dear Killer" offers up a few brutal murder setpieces (the circular saw killing being the most memorable - similar to the blood spraying severed arm scene in Argento's "Tenebre"), but the investigation and unraveling of the mystery takes more of the center stage here (which may disappoint some giallo or horror fans). But the script, acting, and pacing is actually a refreshing change of pace from some of the more hyper giallos out there. And another excellent Ennio Morricone score adds to the atmosphere. Definitely worth a look for diehard giallo fans - gorehounds may be disappointed, though. Although, seeing a man lifted up by his neck by a construction crane and then decapitated will definitely please those who need some blood to get things going.

Shriek Show's DVD offers up a fine anamorphic presentation of the film along with some brief current interviews with star George Hilton and director Valerii. Also included are some trailers for other SS titles including "7 Bloodstained Orchids" and "Hitcher in the Dark".

A nice package overall for a basically forgotten and somewhat obscure giallo. Keep 'em coming!