Director Alberto De Martino can't be faulted for not trying: Formula for a Murder features a maniac wearing leather gloves and a dog collar, wielding a straight razor and carrying a blood-covered doll that sings a creepy song in a weird voice. The protagonist-menaced by the aforementioned killer- is a wheelchair-bound woman, physically disabled and emotionally traumatised after being sexually assaulted as a child. So far, so classic giallo, but a generic plot fails to distinguish Martino's movie from countless other Italian murder mysteries, while the slayings lack the imagination and visual style of a Bava or Argento.
Christina Nagy plays Joanna, whose new husband Craig (David Warbeck) plans to scare her to death by reminding her of her childhood trauma (not really a spoiler, since we learn the identity of the villain fairly early). This predictable premise offers very little in the way of genuine horror or tension, while the film's one unusual plot twist turns out to be a dream sequence (which seemingly becomes a reality for the film's 'WTF?' final scene). As far as the deaths are concerned, a priest has his throat slashed by a razor, another is bludgeoned by a shovel, while Craig's partner in crime, Ruth (Carroll Blumenberg), also get the cut-throat razor treatment. The final showdown between Joanna and Craig sees the woman fighting back with a fire poker and a sharp pair of scissors.
Although very formulaic, this might still have been fun in the hands of a more talented director, or with a far trashier approach, but De Martino's handling of the action is pedestrian at best, there is only a smattering of topless nudity, and the gore is very tame.
5.5 out of 10, rounded down to 5 for the awkward way that Joanna, supposedly a talented archer, holds her bow (but still manages to hit the gold every time).
Christina Nagy plays Joanna, whose new husband Craig (David Warbeck) plans to scare her to death by reminding her of her childhood trauma (not really a spoiler, since we learn the identity of the villain fairly early). This predictable premise offers very little in the way of genuine horror or tension, while the film's one unusual plot twist turns out to be a dream sequence (which seemingly becomes a reality for the film's 'WTF?' final scene). As far as the deaths are concerned, a priest has his throat slashed by a razor, another is bludgeoned by a shovel, while Craig's partner in crime, Ruth (Carroll Blumenberg), also get the cut-throat razor treatment. The final showdown between Joanna and Craig sees the woman fighting back with a fire poker and a sharp pair of scissors.
Although very formulaic, this might still have been fun in the hands of a more talented director, or with a far trashier approach, but De Martino's handling of the action is pedestrian at best, there is only a smattering of topless nudity, and the gore is very tame.
5.5 out of 10, rounded down to 5 for the awkward way that Joanna, supposedly a talented archer, holds her bow (but still manages to hit the gold every time).