Early, minor Dario Argento giallo (his second directorial feature after the 1970 debut "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage") that's professionally crafted with interesting visuals (with a couple memorable death set-pieces), dazzling techniques and convulsive camera-work (stalking POV shots), but the well-dressed mechanics doesn't translate to its insipidly commonplace storytelling of murder and espionage. One night while walking down a street, Franco Arno a blind man with his niece overhears a conversation between two men sitting in a car in front of a medical institute that specialises in genetic experiments. That same night, a security guard is murdered at the research institute. So Arno who was an ex-newspaper reporter before being blinded decides to investigate along with the aid of reporter Carlo. What made it gripping are the good tailored performances of the cast. Karl Malden and James Franciscus hold their own as the leads, serving up a workable combination. Also Catherine Spaak's beautiful presence lights up every scene she's in. Solid turns by Horst Frank, Pier Paolo Capponi and an amusing Ugo Fangareggi. The sombre plot throws around its leads, detailing events, providing evasive characters or keeping things behind closed doors to only end up rather contrived with its revelation. However it's Argento's handling that sets-up the stinging suspense along with that harmoniously, bone rattling music score than say its unconvincingly snooping material.
"Isn't there something fishy in all our lives?"
"Isn't there something fishy in all our lives?"