"There Was A Little Girl" is an underrated Italian horror gem and definitely the best film directed by Ovidio G. Assontis, who previously made the ludicrous Exorcist rip-off "Beyond the Door". This is genuinely uncanny and surprisingly well-scripted terror that more people should discover urgently! Julia is a lovable and beautiful teacher in a school for blind children who successfully erased the traumatizing childhood from her mind. Her twin sister Mary used to hurt her on their birthday but now she's locked up in a mental hospital for good. Yet, with another birthday coming up in just a few days, Mary escapes from the hospital and macabre events begin to occur near Julia's apartment. The opening credits are already very scary and atmospheric, with the classic "Cradle Will Rock" lullaby and the image of a little girl mutilating the face of another girl with a rock (irrelevant, but still very creepy!). "There Was A Little Girl" once was included in the infamous Video-Nasties list but it doesn't really belong there. Even though there are some very graphic murders and one shockingly suggestive drama, most of the film revolves on suspense and mystery. There are some dull moments too, but mainly this is compelling and fairly original 80's horror. Not very easy to come across, but definitely worth purchasing.
