Francesca

Francesca is clearly made by filmmakers who love giallo films, the problem is that the film is so over-baked that it becomes more like a parody. There are positives. The visual style with the washed-out palette and bright primary colours as well as the photography are effective and there are some effective music and sound effects. However, it's all pretty repetitive and derivative. I didn't find it very engaging and just appeared to be trying too hard. I prefer Amer and The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears which take the giallo somewhere different - to a purely aesthetic experience of erotic violence and voyeurism. Oh, and the steam iron death scene is terrible as is most of the acting. Shame.

Francesca is not a 'neo-giallo' like Amer or The Strange Colour of Your Body's Tears. Its not a parody like The Editor. It doesn't have fake scratches in the image, or reuse old music.It is an attempt at creating a 'lost giallo' and it is impeccable at this. It's not going to supplant Profondo Rosso as anyone's favourite but it holds its own comfortably with something second tier like Who Saw Her Die? or My Dear Killer.The music and cinematography are especially convincing recreations and, I stress, are not imitating anything specific but the style as per 1971.There are problems - there is no beautiful woman in a major role (in fact, the cast is very small - revealing the small budget limitations) and the kill sequences are nothing to write home about (the very first is pathetic, actually). The film needed a 2015 attempt at a Edwige Fenech, Anita Strindberg, Laura Gemser, Florinda Balkan imitation - a beautiful woman in trouble. I know they don't grow on trees but give it a go, guys. As for the kills, if your killer is just going to use a razor, you need to do something extra with the circumstances, gore or camera to really goose it.With these aspects fixed, the film's energy level would be raised considerably. As it is, its smart enough to know 74 minutes is long enough and doesn't wear out its welcome.Another small complaint: the UK distributor should have made a brand new crappy dub using those old four actors that dubbed all these things, because that would have added another level.Anyway, as it stands I am surprised I hadn't heard of it before I found it on the shelves of my local supermarket. It's kind of sad that it is considerably better than a movie like Giallo or Mother of Tears.Note: stay tuned after the credits for what I think is a tease for a sequel.

Year of production 2016? Wait, what?!I genuinely thought this was from the 70's! Giallo at its best, all the trademarks are there: from the soundtrack (clearly reminiscent of Goblin scores) to the saturated colours, the editing, the acting, even the strange voice over so characteristic of those Italian films - utterly amazing! Loved it!Plot wise, it is also such a strong tribute to that era with the series of murders inspired by Dante's Inferno.And a lot of props for the DVD artwork - what a homage, beautiful: can I get a poster?! :)Argento would be proud!