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Death Smiles at Murder

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Death Smiles at Murder – aka Death Smiles on a Murderer (Italian: La morte ha sorriso all’assassino) – is a 1973 Italian horror film photographed and directed by Aristide Massaccesi [Joe D’Amato] from a screenplay co-written with Claudio Bernabei and Romano Scandariato.

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Main cast:

Ewa Aulin, Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre; Schizoid; Venom), Angela Bo, Sergio Doria, Luciano Rossi (City of the Living Dead), Attilio Dottesio, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart.

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Plot:

1909: A rich couple take in a young girl who was in a horse carriage accident and has amnesia, and both have an affair with her. Meanwhile, Dr. Sturges (Klaus Kinski) uses an ancient Incan formula to raise the dead for his own series of revenge murders…

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Languid, yet morbidly compelling, with a delirious amount of close-ups of the actors eyeballs, Massaccesi’s focus on eroticism and necrophilia predates his 1979 ‘nasty’ Beyond the Darkness yet is considerably more arty – which perhaps explains why it remained pretty obscure until the digital age? Despite a baffling plot, the gothic ambiance and stylistic presentation are engaging. Meanwhile, the cast seem to believe in the nightmare scenario, especially Klaus Kinski who is typically manic.

Adrian J Smith, Horrorpedia

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“The plot cuts back and forth and twists and turns in upon itself as if to mimic the many bulging veins in Klaus Kinski’s forehead. Despite its nonsensical story, the film itself is surprisingly inviting. D’Amato pulls off a number of impressive scenes, in particular a montage of flirtation and fornication…” Jason McElreath, DVD Drive-In

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” … benefits greatly from high quality cinematography (helmed by D’Amato), terrific locations, and a perfect soundtrack by the great and under-appreciated Berto Pisano (Burial Ground, Interrabang), all of which are integrated together to create one of the best looking and sounding gothic horror era pieces that’s the stuff of dreams and nightmares.” At the Mansion of Madness

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“Just when you think you’re beginning to figure things out, random stuff happens that leaves you scratching your head, like the maid’s hallucinations, the unexplained revival of Eva in her tomb or the flowers that turn into a cat. Despite its drawbacks, though, it’s a highly entertaining, sumptuously made piece of trash cinema that holds up to repeated viewings.” Filmiarity

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” … achieves a hallucinatory ambience reminiscent of Mario Bava or Antonio Margheriti. At its worst it is as crude and banal as could be expected from a film-maker who later went on to specialise in sex / horror hybrids and outright porn.” Giallo Fever

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Cast and characters:

  • Ewa Aulin – Greta von Holstein
  • Klaus Kinski – Dr. Sturges
  • Angela Bo – Eva von Ravensbrück
  • Sergio Doria – Walter von Ravensbrück
  • Attilio Dottesio – Inspector Dannick
  • Marco Mariani – Simeon, the butler
  • Luciano Rossi – Franz, Greta’s Brother
  • Giacomo Rossi-Stuart – Dr. von Ravensbrück, Walter’s Father
  • Fernando Cerulli – Professor Kempte (as Franco Cerulli)
  • Carla Mancini
  • Giorgio Dolfin – Maier – Ballet dancer
  • Pietro Torrisi – Dr. Sturges’ Mute Assistant (uncredited)


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