THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH is a promising giallo from prolific director Sergio Martino, with strong links to his two subsequent follow-up gialli: a note that Fenech receives reads 'YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED ROOM AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY', the actual title of one of the follow-ups, while ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK was another similar offering that once again saw Fenech pursued by a manic Ivan Rassimov. STRANGE VICE isn't quite as good as either of those movies, but it's quite interesting to watch and shows plenty of the expected style. The stalwart Edwige Fenech is an effective and sympathetic lead, displaying strength and fragility together in her character, and the aforementioned Rassimov exceptionally creepy. George Hilton and Alberto De Mendoza (unrecognisable from his turn as psycho priest in HORROR EXPRESS) both offer strong support, and the requisite murders, including a homage to PSYCHO, play out with the usual morbid fashion. The twisty turny climax is particularly effective, but I think Martino spends a little too much time on the sex and eroticism here which comes at the expense of story, so this isn't a favourite.
Review of The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
