THE PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK (1974, original title Il profumo della signora in nero) is another Italian giallo deeply indebted to ROSEMARY'S BABY. It's a tale of social alienation as lonely Mimsy Farmer (who played the wife in FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET) finds herself going out of her mind, traumatised both by events in her childhood as well as a sinister plot involving her closest allies. This one is even more obtuse and fragmented than other gialli I've seen; it steadfastly refuses to make sense and come the end I was really scratching my head at some of the illogical plot developments.
Inevitably it's a very nicely shot film, with a lot of visual flourishes throughout and plenty of clues. There are bizarre characters aplenty, strange behaviour that's never explained, and a murderous climax prefiguring similar events in MADHOUSE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. Many will struggle to love it, as it's very slowly paced with nary a murder in sight for most of the running time, although there's one shocking moment straight from a video nasty. I enjoyed it to a degree, but I wish there had been a little more sense and a little less artiness.
Inevitably it's a very nicely shot film, with a lot of visual flourishes throughout and plenty of clues. There are bizarre characters aplenty, strange behaviour that's never explained, and a murderous climax prefiguring similar events in MADHOUSE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. Many will struggle to love it, as it's very slowly paced with nary a murder in sight for most of the running time, although there's one shocking moment straight from a video nasty. I enjoyed it to a degree, but I wish there had been a little more sense and a little less artiness.