I went in with high expectations. It has Argentosque atmosphere, funky disco style tracks by Goblin, decent acting by co-stars ie, Don Paolo, the stepmother, Doctor, Count, and enough of a plot twist that you have it wrong until a clue is revealed. However what was missing was the strong presence of the main characters, I found Stefano to be kinda wooden and lame, as well as the female lead when compared to the chemistry of joint leads in Argento films. I also found the pacing slow, and I lost interest in parts. There is a few murder scenes with suspense buildup, but executed in a rushed, amateurish way. I've seen about 7 giallo's and this was the first I've rated lower than an 8, as I usually enjoy films of this genre. I just found it lacking when compared to films like Deep Red, Tenebrae, or Fulci efforts like New York Ripper, Lizard in a woman's skin. A 6/10.
Review of The Bloodstained Shadow
