The Case of the Bloody Iris

1972 "The killer slices without mercy!"
6.4| 1h34m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 04 August 1972 Released
Producted By: Galassia Cinematografica
Country: Italy
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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A high-rise apartment populated by models, nightclub dancers and call girls becomes the focus of a mysterious serial killer. When a young model named Jennifer and her friend Marilyn move into one of the victims' former apartments, Jennifer becomes the next target and the pair try to identify the killer.

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Director

Giuliano Carnimeo

Production Companies

Galassia Cinematografica

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The Case of the Bloody Iris Audience Reviews

Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Ensofter Overrated and overhyped
GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.
Dotsthavesp I wanted to but couldn't!
Blake Peterson Stylish, alluring, and agreeable, "The Case of the Bloody Iris" is a straightforward giallo less notable for its dexterous offings and more for leading lady Edwige Fenech, the inarguable queen of the genre. While never reaching the orgasmic heights of other masterpieces of the era (most helmed by Dario Argento and Mario Bava, of course), "The Case of the Bloody Iris" is still a splendidly fun (albeit gory) murder mystery that embraces its ridiculousness and makes up for convoluted time with sophisticated design and worthy blood-soaked set pieces. It's an admirable time waster, a slasher dressed to the nines in pre-De Palma swank.As in all gialli, a gloved killer wrapped in sharp black is mercilessly butchering physically beautiful young women for kicks, this time in a luxurious high rise apartment. Days after two women are murdered in a twenty-four hour period, models Jennifer (Edwige Fenech) and Marilyn (Paola Quattrini) move into one of the victims' apartment, hardly worried about the room's sordid past. "Life goes on," Marilyn scoffs, as if wishing to jinx herself into murder mystery oblivion. But it doesn't take long for the pair to realize that such things can hardly be laughed off, especially when considering the building itself seems to contain a number of shady characters easily able to commit such heinous acts. Suspects include a stereotyped lesbian neighbor, a misogynistic old woman that lives with her disturbingly deformed son, and even Jennifer's love interest (George Hilton), an architect with a crippling phobia of blood. And it doesn't help that Jennifer's maniacal ex-husband (Ben Carra) enjoys spending his days stalking his former wife instead of making a living. In order to fully enjoy "The Case of the Bloody Iris", one must disregard the horrendous dubbing, the severely stiff performances, and the regularly asinine script — because this is a film about style and Edwige Fenech, not much else. (Those expecting the normal amount of generous giallo gore will be sorely disappointed.) The first murder is exquisitely shot — with hardly a word of dialogue to spare, it follows a comely blonde from a telephone booth to her apartment building's elevator, where she winds up slashed to death after the passengers depart one by one. Clearly inspiration for Angie Dickinson's gruesome offing in "Dressed to Kill" (which is miles better), the scene sets the tone of the film: absurd but competently suspenseful. Because much of the film is absurd — Jennifer's religious cult back-story is unneeded and contains a gratuitous orgy scene (hardly graphic) more laughable than tantalizing, and her bad habit of wandering away from safety in a time of danger is maddening — but, for the most part, "The Case of the Bloody Iris" classes it up while later '70s peers of the "Black Christmas" mindset didn't. It cares more about how it appears than how it builds intellectually, so thank God it looks like the chic second cousin of "Blowup" or some other mod infused character study.Best of all is Edwige Fenech: never have I seen her in one of her famous gialli (those were directed by Sergio Martino, and I'm still in the process of trying to find a copy to view), and this film gives an idea as to why she is an underground legend. With her cat eyes, voluptuous figure, and jet black hair, it's impossible not to stare at her, mouth agape and all. One can hardly call her a fine actress, but Fenech has presence, a characteristic hardly found in other giallo women like Barbara Bouchet or Ida Galli. The camera clings to her composure almost passively; she can turn a poorly executed scene into a work of art by merely acting as its center. Maybe her films with Martino are better, but "The Case of the Bloody Iris" is a giallo minor but palatable.
Red-Barracuda The Case of the Bloody Iris is a classic style giallo written by genre specialist Ernesto Gastaldi. It stars the first couple of the sub-genre George Hilton and Edwige Fenech. And it is adorned with a lush score by the prominent Bruno Nicolai. It features a plot about a killer who is murdering people with immoral backgrounds. Its heroines are models and exotic dancers. There are dumb cops, eccentric side characters and sexy Euro babes. Its story is ridiculous, yet stylish always. In other words, this is a textbook example of the giallo. But you know what? I like textbook examples of the giallo. It's somewhat pleasing when a flick simply provides the thrills you hope it will. And while this may not be amongst the best the genre has to offer, it has the good grace to deliver the goods.A series of murders occur in a new high-rise apartment building. A couple of models move in and enter the mayhem.This one utilises a fairly routine plot but gives it an agreeable slice of schlock. Fenech's character is a model who has a past that includes wild drug orgies. Her neighbours in the building include a lesbian violinist and a mutant comic-book lover. There's loads of nudity and the usual selection of violent murders. It's all very much a product of the days before political correctness and all the more enjoyable because of this. But you would need to be insane to take this movie seriously. It might be trashy but its superior nonsense full of colour and style. Not for the average viewer but fans of Euro cult flicks of the 70's should find this a lot of fun.
Jonny_Numb The problem with being a fervent connoisseur of '70s-era Italian horror is that it's only a matter of time before the good stuff (the Fulcis, the Argentos, the Bavas) gives way to the derivative rip-offs, until there's nowhere to go but down in the dregs of amateurs who were thrown some money to satisfy a "market demand." And the problem with gialli in particular is that, even the well-made ones begin to seem similar in structure, character, and plot. And while "The Case of the Bloody Iris" is well-done enough for me to recommend, it is ultimately a pretty conventional offering. The excellent opening scene has a beautiful woman murdered in an elevator within her apartment; soon after, luscious models are being slain by a "Blood and Black Lace"-styled killer. Like other gialli of the era, "Iris" sets up its premise early on, and spends the rest of the time twisting it into a pretzel of red herrings, misdirection, and talky exposition. But director Giuliano Carnimeo (under the pseudonym Anthony Ascott) keeps things well-paced and intriguing, giving us some great setpieces and camera work (including a lot of vertiginous shots), and Edwige Fenech ("Strip Nude for Your Killer") is an enticing example of '70s sex appeal who looks great in skimpy negligee or nothing at all. Not the best example of the genre, but certainly worth a look for fans.
Scarecrow-88 Jennifer(Edwige Fenech)is a model on her way up the ladder of success who moves into the apartment complex architecturally designed by Andrea Barto(George Hilton). He even has a blueprint of the whole building. Andrea is dashing, handsome & filthy rich..but he has a tendency of being involved in the lives of certain women who fall prey to a serial killer wearing a stocking mask, hat & brown leather gloves. The killer uses a very small knife that can be easily hidden when stabbing in the gut of the chosen female victim..even in a crowded street or public elevator. Jennifer is being stalked by an ex-"husband" who won't cease from following her around often leaving a flower as a reminder that he isn't too far away. She hears mysterious voices in the bathroom from the apartment next to hers housing an old woman who likes horror stories. There is also a professor and his lesbian daughter(who makes it quite known she's attracted to Jen)who live on Jennifer's floor. It seems the female victims chosen all lived in Andrea's apartment. When Jennifer's best friend, Marilyn(Paola Quattrini)is murdered on a crowded street, she is in constant fear for her well-being. Couple that with the killer almost attacking Jennifer in her own apartment and Andrea(who she has become sexually involved with) being the chief suspect, she doesn't know where to turn. Anyone and everyone is a suspect.Good mystery highlights some nasty stomach stabbings in this delicious giallo from Giuliano Carnimeo. The ending where someone falls down a flight of stairs as the camera follows him towards the climactic end is stunning. Fenech is a gorgeous creature, but she is pretty much caught in a state of peril most the way with fear the constant emotion on her face. Hilton is the prototypical leading male in the gialli sub-genre..a wealthy, attractive, but mysterious man the female heroine falls for. Hilton always creates doubt for the viewer because you just never know because anyone whose seen their share of gialli understand that he has been both hero and villain. The film finds ways for Fenech to show off her killer body. The above title regards how the film changes when the first chosen possibility as the killer is found dead with a flower in Jennifer's apartment covered in blood.