THE SLASHER… IS THE SEX MANIAC! (1972)
aka Rivelazioni di un maiaco sussuale al capo della squadra mobile
Article 3088 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 10-30-2009
Posting Date: 1-27-2010
Directed by Roberto Bianchi Montero
Featuring Farley Granger, Sylva Koscina, Silvano Tranquilli
Country: Italy
What it is: giallo

An inspector tries to track down a serial killer who specializes in murdering unfaithful wives among the upper classes.

For the most part, this is a relatively uninspired giallo; it’s flatly directed, it’s a cinch to spot the real killer and the obvious red herring (once you spot one, you’ll spot the other), and the murder sequences aren’t impressive. The most interesting aspect during the first hour is the fact that, since the murders are taking place in the upper echelons of society, the inspector has to be careful whose toes he steps on during his investigation; this concept gives the movie a bit more depth and complexity than it might otherwise have had. However, the patient viewer will find that things pick up during the last half hour when the inspector sets a trap for the killer; the ensuing battle of wits is quite suspenseful, and we get some dark revelations about the inspector himself before it’s all over. In the final analysis, the movie is a mixed bag, but has its moments.