Review: Smile Before Death

Jenny Tamburi’s mother has died, supposedly by suicide. She comes to stay at her late mother’s villa, but finds that it is currently occupied by Rosalba Neri, a photographer who just happens to be the current squeeze of Tamburi’s stepfather (Silvano Tranquilli). Pervy stepfather seems rather taken with the sixteen (!) year old, something Neri notices as well. Before long, young Tamburi starts to suspect that the couple are trying to killer her for her mother’s inheritance money.

 

Another day, another giallo film with Rosalba Neri. This 1972 film has Neri pairing up with her “Amuck!” director Silvio Amadio. The Sapphic action is barely existent this time around, and it’s hardly a great film. However, it’s still a fair bit superior to “Amuck!” overall. Neri is perfect, lead actress Jenny Tamburi is cute as a button, and quite a deal more interesting than the gorgeous Barbara Bouchet was in “Amuck!”. She also gets naked quickly and often, for those who like that sort of thing. In that respect it’s quite a departure from a lot of horror films (especially the descendant of the giallo film – the slasher) where the virginal innocent is usually the only one who doesn’t get naked.

 

On the downside there is an almost non-stop repetition of a truly insufferable song on the soundtrack. Whoever came up with the idea of constantly replaying that insanely irritating musical cue should’ve been euthanised for the good of humanity. Also, the basic plot set-up doesn’t differentiate itself enough from “Amuck!”, which was Amadio’s film made immediately prior to this. It’s very same-y: After a recent family death, a young woman stays with a kinky couple (one of whom is played in both films by Rosalba Neri), to get to the truth of how they died. This time it’s a mother instead of a lover, but still it wasn’t quite enough of a distinction. That said, aside from the basic set-up the mystery is at least a bit more interesting this time, as are the characters. There’s an hilarious twist ending too.

 

A mild recommendation, this well-acted giallo with plenty of nudity and a decent mystery is more than OK for genre fans. However, the hint of familiarity to “Amuck!” and a dreadful theme song do threaten to derail it a bit. Rosalba Neri is a definite standout, but Jenny Tamburi is fine too. The screenplay is by the director and the three Francescos: Francesco Di Dio, Francesco Villa (both of whom worked with the director on another film with a ridiculous English translation: “How was it that Masuccio Salernitano, fleeing with his breeches in his hand, managed to preserve it healthy” – I’m not kidding, check the IMDb entry!), and Francesco Merli (producer of “The Mercenary”).

 

Rating: B-  

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