Seven Blood Stained Orchids (1972)

The movie opens up with a couple of young women being killed.  When the 3rd is attacked she survives, but the police let everyone think she has died.  This really isn’t a spoiler because the movie almost immediately reveals it.  The woman and her fiancé then start to unravel why the killer is targeted her and the other victims of the crime.  This leads them to discover another earlier murder and how that ties into what was seemingly a random group of victims.  Eventually they do figure out who the killer is, but not until there is a satisfying body count!

This is a great Giallo that has it all, including being directed by Umberto Lenzi.  Seriously what movie nerd wouldn’t want to see a murder mystery directed by the man who brought the world Cannibal Ferox?  We have an interesting mystery that slowly unravels on screen.  There are plenty of suspects that are eliminated one at a time until the real killer is revealed.  When everything is exposed the story makes sense and it all fits together.  In addition to the story being satisfying I also found the movie paced well.  Not once was I bored and the plot grabs you right away and immerses you in the mystery.  The movie also has a bit of sleaze to it, which it a must for a good Giallo.  There is some nudity, drug use, and alternative lifestyles that are key plot points.  These are all things that I expect when I sit down to watch one of these. 

There was a bit of blood on display as several of the kills do appear on screen.  Now that said fans shouldn’t expect a blood bath like they would get from an ’80s slasher movie, but there are some nifty kills here.  You get strangulation, a drowning, and one of my favorites a nice drill to the chest.  This was pretty bloody for the early ‘70s and I appreciate it for the style instead of in your face effects works. 

There are a few other things that I wanted to mention.  The movie boasts a rather cool soundtrack that adds to the vibe and feel of the movie.  I might be a bit biased, but for me it just isn’t a Giallo unless I get that groovy European music in the background.  Also along those same lines the clothes and sets are very colorful and caught nicely by the camera work and lighting.  For me everything just works together to give the audience exactly what is expected both in content and tone. 

Yeah I really dig this one and am going to give it a big recommendation.  Even if you normally aren’t a big fan of Giallos I think that with the excellent pacing and easy to follow story this is going to be one you might enjoy.  And of course if you already dig this sort of flick then it is a no brainer. 

3 ½ out of 4

reviewed by John Shatzer

© Copyright 2010 John Shatzer