Four Flies on Grey Velvet

Since giallo movies have been on my mind a lot lately, I began to question whether I had in fact seen Dario Argento's:

Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971).

Turns out that if I saw it back in the day I have completely forgotten everything about it. Minor spoilers going forward.

We are introduced to Roberto Tobias (Michael Brandon), a rock drummer who is being stalked by a man in a black suit. One evening after band practice, Roberto follows his stalker to an old theater and confronts him. The stalker pulls a knife and in the struggle, gets stabbed. A stranger in a cartoon mask takes pictures of the killing before Roberto flees home. Soon after, things get grim. The house he shares with his wife Nina (Mimsey Farmer) is burgled, he finds pictures of the killing in his home, he finds threatening notes, people are killed etc. With his friend God (Bud Spencer) he tries to figure out what is going on. Everything looks like a case of blackmail, but no one has asked for any money...

As stated above, the movie is directed by Dario Argento, and expertly directed at that. The shot composition is first class, and despite the movie not having all that many lavish locales, the movie is gorgeous. The music is by Ennio Morricone, and is pretty good. The actors are fine, in fact I have nothing to complain about from a technical standpoint.

I do have a couple of complaints about the story. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that two of the murders are illogically set up and feels more like killings for the sake of killings even though there is are story reasons they were murdered. Now plot holes aren't the biggest deal breaker in the world, but in my personal opinion, Four Flies on Grey Velvet is boring, and that is pretty bad.

I can't even really put my finger on it. Objectively, the story from start to finish is pretty interesting and the ending was odd but alright, I even deduced the killers identity, but the movie just feels so slow and plodding. Another aspect that I wasn't a big fan of was the humorous elements. Giallo movies rarely try to be funny, and it's not like Four Flies on Grey Velvet tried to be a comedy, but there are clear comedy elements at work here, and together with the general dullness, I wasn't amused.

That is really all I can say about it. Do I recommend Four Flies on Grey Velvet? Yes and no. It's not like it's awful so if you are on a giallo or Argento binge, do give it a shot. It could just be me that don't like it, so give it a shot if you're in the mood.

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great and safe week!