The Case of the Bloody Iris - Shameless Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1972
Director: Giuliano Carnimeo
Writer: Ernesto Gastaldi
Cast: Edwige Fenech, George Hilton, Annabella Incontrera, Paola Quattrini

Release Date: November 19th, 2018
Approximate running time: 94 Minutes 43 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 18 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £12.99 (UK)

"After two beautiful women are murdered in an apartment block, Jennifer (Edwige Fenech) and Marilyn (Paola Quattrini) move into the flat of one of the slaughtered girls. But before long, the unknown predatory pervert turns his salacious attentions to the gorgeous Jennifer. The list of suspects includes a woman and her deformed son, a crazy lesbian and even Jennifer s own lover.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “A new 2K scan with extensive restoration made for Shameless.”

The Case of the Bloody Iris comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 32.7 GB

Feature: 23.2 GB

Though the source that’s been used for this transfer is in very good shape, This transfer exhibits compression artifacts, scanner noise, and some digital sharpening. Colors look correct, black levels fare well, and details generally look crisp.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in English and a LPCM mono mix in Italian. Both audio mixes are in good shape; the dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and Bruno Nicolai’s score sounds appropriately robust. Included with this release are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art, an interview with actor George Hilton titled Flowers of Blood (20 minutes 43 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles) and an interview with actress Paola Quattrini titled Marilyn (11 minutes 51 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with removable English subtitles).

Other extras include trailers for All the Colors of the Dark and Strip Naked for Your Killer.

Summary:

Though most directors working in Italian cinema in the 1960s and 1970s would move to whatever genre was popular at the moment, There were a handful of directors like Giuliano Carnimeo who worked primarily in one genre. After directing ten spaghetti westerns, he would finally branch out into another genre. And in 1972, he would make his only foray into the giallo genre with The Case of the Blood Iris.

That said, despite this being his only giallo, he does a remarkable job exploiting all the key elements that have become synonymous with the genre. The Case of the Bloody Iris is a stylish film, and the visuals don’t waste a moment showcasing its female cast members ample assets. Another area where The Case of the Bloody Iris excels is in its ability to create tense moments. And nowhere is this more clear than when it comes to the murder set pieces.

Without a doubt, The Case of the Bloody Iris’s greatest asset is Edwige Fenech in the role of its protagonist, a model named Jennifer Lansbury. By the time of The Case of the Bloody Iris, she had already established herself as Gaillotine cinema's foremost heroine. And once again, she does not disappoint as she delivers a very satisfying performance.

Another performance of note is George Hilton (The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail) in the role of a suave playboy named Andrea Antinori, who falls in love with Jennifer. His onscreen chemistry is a tremendous asset to the film.

Other notable cast members include Oreste Lionello (Four Flies on Grey Velvet) in the role of a gay photographer named Arthur, Annabella Incontrera (Black Belly of the Tarantula), a lesbian neighbor named Shelia, and Paola Quattrini (Hercules) in the role of Jennifer’s roommate, a model named Marilyn Ricci.

The Case of the Bloody Iris, or the Italian title, Perché quelle strane gocce di sangue sul corpo di Jennifer? "What Are Those Strange Drops of Blood Doing on Jennifer’s Body?" is one of giallo cinema’s longest and most bizarre titles. And though The Case of Bloody Iris is a by-the-numbers film that brings nothing new to the table, The result is a highly entertaining film that ultimately succeeds because of its breezy tone.

The Case of the Bloody Iris gets a good release from Shameless Films that comes with two informative interviews, but unfortunately the transfer leaves plenty of room for improvement.

Written by Michael Den Boer