Death Walks At Midnight

Death Walks at Midnight (La Morte Accarezza A Mezzanotte) (1972)

Runtime: 102 minutes

Directed by: Luciano Ercoli

Starring: Nieves Navarro, Simon Andreu, Peter Martell, Carlo Gentili, Ivano Staccioli

From: Cinecompany/C.B. Films S.A.

As I viewed Death Walks on High Heels the previous night, why not check out the movie w/ a similar title from the same director and sharing many of the same stars? As I enjoyed High Heels more than expected, it only made sense to also stream this on Arrow's service. Midnight I did love at much-be that as it may this was still a fun time.

This time the attractive Nieves Navarro plays a model (a former line of work for her in real life) who takes a new version of LSD and while tripping thinks she sees a murder. She then discovers that it was similar but not exactly like a killing which took place half a year beforehand. Eventually it does make sense although not only was the plot a little far-fetched to say the least, the story was presented in an odd way even by giallo standards.

That said, this still gave me enough genre thrills to satisfy me. Navarro played another memorable protagonist, this one having a “take no s***” attitude. Like in High Heels, Simon Andreu portrayed her slimeball paramour. Carlo Gentili was another police inspector, just one not as entertaining. One change was that doing the score this time was Gianni Ferrio; it was pretty groovy. Along the way is an asylum that was stereotypically portrayed, some amazing 70's décor, and a villain (not RZA) who uses an f'ing Iron Fist as a weapon, which was pretty bitchin'. In addition, somehow all the disparate elements shown in the first half are successfully tied together.

Director Luciano Ercoli did not do that many more movies before retiring from the business; why it happened couldn't have been any better for him. He was already married to Navarro and after receiving a large inheritance, that's when he peaced out. Who wouldn't do the same thing? I mean, if only we could all be so lucky.