Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971)

- 4 mosche di velluto grigio
Another film that needs a good, legitimate Region 1 release., 27 April 2006

I am a Dario Argento fan. Some of his films like Suspiria, Deep Red, and Tenebre are among my all-time favorites. Until just recently, however, there was one notable entry on Argento's filmography that I had not seen – Four Flies on Grey Velvet. Maybe I had built it up to much in my mind or maybe it was the bad transfer or maybe it's just not that good, but to say I was disappointed would be an understatement.

Before I get to the problems I have with Four Flies on Grey Velvet, I'll cover a few things that worked for me. First, the scenario the protagonist finds himself in the middle of is brilliant. In a scuffle over a knife, a man accidentally stabs and kills a stalker who has been following him for weeks. Unknown to our protagonist, there was a witness with a camera present who issues a series of threats against his life. He can't go to the police as his crime will be discovered. And the blackmailer doesn't seem to want money, just his life. It's a terrific set-up. Second, Argento is able to create some nice atmosphere and suspense, especially in the scenes where the blackmailer enters the man's house. Just imagine having someone who wants you dead seemingly able to come and go at will from your house. It's a chilling thought and Argento makes the most of these nighttime scenes.

But there are problems with Four Flies on Grey Velvet that I cannot overlook. To begin with, the casting is horrible. Michael Brandon makes the most unappealing lead I've seen in an Argento film. Because he makes no emotional connection with the viewer (at least with this viewer), it's hard to care about what happens to him. And Mimsy Farmer is just plain old bad. Then there's the comedy Argento decided to put in the movie. A little comic relief is one thing, but this is too much. For example, every scene with the mailman is so totally ridiculous that it takes away from any suspense Argento had been able to create. Finally, the clue that leads to the killer's revelation is preposterous. This is 1950s b-movie, sci-fi stuff – not Argento.

If the legal questions surrounding the rights of Four Flies on Grey Velvet are ever resolved and the movie gets a legitimate Region 1 release, I'll definitely give it another chance. As I said in my opening paragraph, the transfer on the DVD-R I watched was horrible and cut. Plus, I'll go into the film a second time without the overly lofty expectations. Until then, however, a 6/10 is the best I can do.

6/10