11 December 2024
Phantom of Death (1987)
91 min.
Directed by Ruggero Deodato.
With Michael York, Donald Pleasence, Edwige Fenich, Mapi Galan, Fabio Sartos, Antonella Ponziani.
A nice late-entry Italian giallo from Ruggero Deodato.

This unpleasant story concerns gifted pianist York who is stricken with a disease that causes him to age very quickly, to lose his sanity, and to kill those around him.

As a giallo, there's very little "mystery" as to the identity of the killer. But Phantom of Death does have some saucy death sequences. And it's great to see perennial '70s gialli queen Fenech in a late '80s horror outing.

With the exception of always hammy Pleasence as the investigator on the case, this has well done acting from the rest of its cast.

For those who have always enjoyed the theme of vampire David Bowie aging to ancient status in Tony Scott's The Hunger (1983), you'll likely enjoy this good giallo-meets-character study.

Italian: Un delitto poco comune.

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