Superior Giallo and a must see for fans of Italian cinema

The_Void

It's a damn good job that this film finally received a DVD release, because The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh is surely too good a film to be considered lost. Directed by Giallo maestro Sergio Martino, The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh is a sleazy sadistic thriller that takes as much influence from the Giallos that came before it as it does from Italy's other popular export, Spaghetti Westerns. The film takes obvious influence from the Sergio Leone masterpiece, Once Upon a Time in the West, by the way that the plot is set up; with a woman at the centre, and three men surrounding her. Unlike a lot of Giallo, Wardh features a plot that makes sense and the fact that Martino has put the focus on the plotting does the film no end of favours in the thrill stakes. We follow a woman named Julia Wardh. She's married, but not exactly faithful; and that is coming back to haunt her, as she comes to believe that the misogynistic maniac on the loose could be either her husband, her current lover or her ex-lover; and even comes to believe that she will become the murderer's next target.

Giallo is often brought down by terrible dubbing, which often gives the films a very jokey feel; but this film is presented in it's original language with subtitles, which really proves how much dubbing can spoil a film. The fact that it's in Italian makes the film feel much more professional, and there is no doubt that this is a film to be taken seriously. Martino directs his first Giallo well, and always ensures that Wardh is pleasing to the senses with a sublime score courtesy of Nora Orlandi and some excellent location shots and cinematography throughout. The acting is also very good, with heroine Edwige Fenech providing the film's backbone in the leading female role, and fellow Giallo regular George Hilton suiting his character nicely in the role of her suave lover. Sex and violence co-stars, with some nicely erotic scenes offset by some grisly murder sequences, that give just enough on the gore front without going over the top. The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh is easily one of the best Giallo that I've seen. It's attention to detail well thought-out plot ensure that this film stands out amongst it's fellow Giallos, and I can highly recommend this film to fans of Italian cinema.

score 10/10

The_Void 19 January 2006

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1269249/