It's considered a classic in Italy, and it's not hard to see why. It's got a great locale, a creepy premise, and good acting. The mood (playing off Italians' stereotypes of their southern regions the way 2000 Maniacs and Texas Chainsaw Massacre play off Americans' ideas of the Deep South) is one of foreboding throughout, and you really start to feel something ominous coming, despite the fact that not much happens till the end. The big "surprise" at the end is pretty jaw-dropping, despite the fact that it's been ripped off by a high-profile US movie since, which takes away some of its thunder. The movie's biggest debit is a very graphic, disturbing and completely unnecessary rape/murder scene that I found despicable, destroying a lot of the faith I had in the movie up to it; it ranks with I Spit on Your Grave as the most hateful and cruel rape scene in cinema, and is beyond any justification.