THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH (1971)
aka Lo Strano vizio della Signora Wardh, Next!, Blade of the Ripper
Article 2629 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 6-16-2008
Posting Date: 10-24-2008
Directed by Sergio Martino
Featuring George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Conchito Airoldi
Country: Italy/Spain

A woman finds herself threatened by a razor-wielding murderer. Is it her husband? Her lover? Her ex-lover? Or someone else…

Part of me really admires the DIABOLIQUE-level complexity of the story, and I do admire the editing here; it manages to keep the scenes moving in a fast and efficient manner, at least for the first two-thirds of the movie. It’s only towards the end where the movie starts slowing the pace down, a sure sign that it’s getting ready to launch a plot twist on you. But it is possible to O.D. on plot twists, and, in my estimation, this movie tries to sneak in one too many before it’s all over, so that the final effect is a bit more comic than intended. Of course, this being giallo, there’s style, gore, and sex to spare, though I do think they could cut back on the bathing scenes and some of the stylistic touches seem a bit forced. Still, this is perhaps the best movie I’ve seen from Sergio Martino so far.