At first glance, Renato
Polselli’s stylistic S&M fever nightmare, Delirium, might feel like an interesting case study of psychopathy,
but I’m hesitant to call the film’s protagonist a psychopath. He’s definitely a
sadistic maniac of sorts, but a psychopath has no conscience and therefore cannot
feel empathy and remorse. Our maniac, here, feels remorse and is at odds with
himself. After doing harm, he gets emotional and curses his reflection before
shattering the mirror. Just to stop the monster, he tries to set himself up to
be caught by the police.
No sir, he may be a serial killer, but the highly
respected, criminal psychologist and police consultant Dr. Herbert Lyutak (Mickey Hargitay) is no psychopath.
He
actually makes for a compelling lead, thanks to a fair amount of charisma and
outward charm that contrasts with his hidden sick side. It’s made known early
on that Herbert’s a particularly nasty fellow, with a pitch black disturbing
murder sequence involving a young lady (Stefania
Fassio). In making its protagonist a murderer, we have something more
unique from the get go. Though we know Herbert’s a killer, murders still
continue in the traditional ‘whodunit’ giallo style, which imposes the
question of Herbert being the only killer. The multiple murder scenes of pretty
girls getting killed are cruel, which isn’t surprising for a giallo, but Polselli really seems to be trying to
outdo them all.
If ever there was a movie that epitomized the weird,
scattered, and strangely erotic nature of Eurohorror the most, that film would
most likely be The Reincarnation of
Isabel. It’s a work of art where a clear goal-driven narrative seems to
have either been purposefully or unknowingly neglected. It’s still a good
story but one that is awkwardly told. It may just as well have been that
having a story spoon-fed to viewers was of little importance in this case, as director
Renato Polselli (Delirium, The Vampire and the Ballerina) might’ve felt he had a lot
more to offer by instead unloading his tale of reincarnation in a rather
erratic fashion, frequently diverging from the narrative for the sake of
overusing the film’s seductive set pieces, with events happening for unclear
reasons and moving in unclear directions. It is also nonetheless done with
gusto and a unique painterly craftsmanship. Fans of the weird and sexy side of
Eurohorror should consider looking to The
Reincarnation of Isabel to get their regular fix.
A supposed witch, Isabella
(Rita, Nude for Satan, Calderoni),
was staked and burned at an altar in front of an attentive mob of villagers. Centuries
later, someone or something with a following of cultists and vampires is trying
to revive/reincarnate the Great Mistress, Isabella, and they’ll sacrifice as
many virgins as it takes for her to live again. Women are turning up dead with
their hearts missing and strange bite marks on their necks. It all seems to be
connected to a castle that has just been bought and occupied by a Mr. Jack
Nelson (Mickey, Bloody Pit of Horror, Hargitay),
his wife, and his stepdaughter, Laureen (also played by Calderoni). A special party in celebration of Laureen’s engagement
to a local man is underway in the castle, and the epoch involving Isabella’s
persecution in the long distant past begins to haunt the inhabitants in
erotically bizarre and deadly ways.
What can I say about Rita Calderoni? She’s a delightful and committed lead with very
pure good looks. Interestingly enough like in the film Nude for Satan, there are moments where she inexplicably has a
single breast exposed without seeming to notice or care that her boob is
showing. Seeing her treat us to this provocative sight of her in more than one
movie has caused me to consider this look to be her trademark. Calderoni also puts on a convincing performance
with her portrayal of the persecuted Isabel. She looks like she went through a
lot for us, and it actually looks like it hurts when they drive a stake through
her.
