House of
  the Blue Shadows 

Italy, 1986  

The sinister encounter with horror ...

*** 

akaLA CASA DEL BUON RITORNO

Directed by: Beppe Cino

Starring: Stefano Gabrini, Amanda Sandrelli, Fiammetta Carena,Lola Ledda, Francesco Costa, Stanis Leda, Fabrizio Capuani, Eloisa Cino, Eleonora Salvadori, Elvira Ca

Choice dialogue:  “I’ll slit my throat for you!”

Slasher Trash with Panache?

Review:JA Kerswell

THE HOUSE OF THE BLUE SHADOWS is certainly not a typical Giallo. There is no black-gloved killer, but the Onibaba-masked presence is certainly creepy enough. However, it is not really the main focus of the film (the first murder doesn’t occur until about 20 minutes from the end of the movie). It has more in common with films that broach arthouse territory, such as Pupi Avati’s exemplary THE HOUSE WITH THE LAUGHING WINDOWS (1976) or Francesco Barilli’s THE PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK (1974)—although it isn’t as successful as either of those two examples. Beppe Cino’s film lives up to its name with its chilly hues (in various shades of blue). The director conjures up some striking imagery and interesting camerawork to evoke the house’s high strangeness. However, it is arguably more of a mood piece than a thriller, although it does achieve some suspenseful passages near its close. It flits around various horror and thriller themes like a ghoulish butterfly without settling on any particular one. At times, it feels like a study of a character’s descent into madness akin to Roman Polanski’s REPULSION (1965)—as Luca reverts back to his boyhood by physically transforming himself by shaving off first his beard and then his moustache. We are never sure if Lola’s death was an accident or if she was pushed from the roof, and if so, by whom? The script references fairy tales such as Red Riding Hood and makes allusions to the legend of Bluebeard (who killed successive wives). At times, it could be a ghost story. Has Lola returned from the grave to get her revenge? It teases that Ayesha is a witch who may be looking to take revenge for Lola’s death (she keeps a shrine of photos of the young girl and seemingly never ages). At other times, it tips its hat to the North American slasher movie, with its masked killer descending or ascending the stairs of the house in search of victims. The film even suggests darker themes, such as possible incest, but like the other threads, is abandoned as soon as it is introduced. This eclecticism is perhaps intriguing, but it prevents the viewer from being fully invested in the mystery of what exactly is happening. Likewise, anyone hoping for a clear resolution to any of the film’s myriad mysteries will be disappointed as it doesn’t tie everything up in anything even approaching a neat bow—and arguably leaves more questions than answers. Ultimately, it raises the possibility that the film is actually just a hot mess rather than a purposeful, finely crafted enigma. I guess it is up to the viewer to decide which it is.
 
Despite its seeming lack of mainstream appeal, THE HOUSE OF THE BLUE SHADOWS did receive an Italian cinema release in early 1987 (after appearing at the Venice Film Festival in the summer of 1986). It was shot quickly over 12 days in and around Rome on 16mm. Reviews were not particularly kind, with Gabrini’s acting attracting particular scorn (although he really isn’t that bad).
 
Those looking for a traditional thriller narrative might be better served elsewhere, but this atypical Giallo is perhaps a film to be experienced rather than scrutinised.  

BODY COUNT 4: 
Female 2 / Male 2

  1. Female falls to her death
  2. Female is stabbed to death
  3. Male is seen dead after a fall
  4. Male shoots himself dead

THE HOUSE OF THE BLUE SHADOWS (Hysteria Lives! Video Review)

THE HOUSE OF THE BLUE SHADOWS trailer



Thank you for reading! And, if you've enjoyed this review, please consider a donation to help keep Hysteria Lives! alive! Donate now with Paypal.

Go to the home page.