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Comedy Cult Classic

THE FIEND

1977 · 1h 34m · NR · Comedy / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A low rank journalist at Tribuna Sera newspaper receives a letter one day. His correspondence contains a serial killer's letters, which he exploits.

Details & Specs

Release
1977
Runtime
1h 34m
Country
Italy
Language
Italian
Also Known As
Criminalia, Qui sera tué demain ?, The Fiend, El monstruo, Im Dienste eines Monsters, Original title: Il mostro

Synopsis

Dorreli is a low rank journalist, with a desk next to the toilet at Tribuna Sera newspaper. His correspondence contains a serial killer’s letters, which he exploits. Circulation jumps. It takes him a while to realise the identity of the killer. While all this is happening, Johnnie neglects his red head son.

Intriguing Italian mix of comedy and giallo. We are closer to the Volonte thrillers than Dario Argento here.

Top rank technicians on form, though Morricone has done more distinctive work. Formidable central performance and direction which manages to mix bad taste comedy, murder mystery and comment on contemporary press ethics, parenting and publicity.