Deep Red (1975)

A pianist witnesses the brutal murder of a psychic but the assailant escapes unseen. He pries into the case with a nosy journalist and finds himself the murder’s next target.

Hyper stylized horror-adjacent thrillers, giallo is a very niche genre similar to noir. Defined more by style and mood elements than by story or setting, plot and character are sometimes given short shrift. Not so much here as we follow the sometimes nonsensical investigation as it twists and turns to an inevitable conclusion.

The journalist was played by Daria Nicolodi, who seemed awkward and annoying in the role. I found her to be an odd choice until I learned she was dating the director. The film features what would later be interpreted as a trans character, in a non villainous role. They were played by actress Geraldine Hooper.

I don’t fully get Giallo. Deep Red presents a better than fair mystery that leaves the viewer more than a little confounded. Rated on many online sites as high or higher than Dario Argento’s more famous Suspiria, I enjoyed the latter a bit more. Visually interesting and certainly held my interest, but maybe the style just isn’t for me. AMRU 3.5.