18 reviews
A lacklustre giallo from Lamberto Bava.
- BA_Harrison
- Jul 12, 2007
- Permalink
Death by whisk?
- morrison-dylan-fan
- Oct 7, 2012
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Not bad Italian giallo.
Nicola's beautiful wife is brutally murdered in the shower immediately after he discovers that she has been cheating on him.Naturally the police assume Nicola is responsible, but the possibility of another suspect becomes more and more likely..."You'll Die at Midnight" is one of the better Lamberto Bava's giallo efforts.The film is surprisingly stylish and the killings are quite gory.The film borrows a lot from Dario Argento's brilliant "Tenebre",although I enjoyed it more than earlier Bava's giallo "A Blade in the Dark".The murder of a young woman who has underwear stuffed down her throat is an obvious nod to the first killing scene in "Tenebre".The stalking scene in the abandoned theater is truly creepy.The score by Claudio Simonetti is great and the acting is decent with Valeria D'Obici and Leonardo Treviglio in the leading roles.The story is pretty derivative,but "You'll Die at Midnight" shouldn't disappoint fans of Italian giallos.7 out of 10.
- HumanoidOfFlesh
- Oct 8, 2005
- Permalink
Where a woman tries to use a hand mixer against a sharp knife
Midnight Killer is exactly what you would expect from Lamberto Bava.Full of suspense,thrills,twists,turns,red herrings.But also people (mostly women acting stupid). Some of the victims act in such an illogical manner that at one point you begin to think."Don't tell me she is that stupid.Go ahead,kill her already". The pace is really good and you are constantly wondering who the killer is. At one point you can deduce it for yourself. Although I must admit that Lamberto successfully made me doubt a couple of times. He uses some clever tricks to put you off the trail.And in this case I simply loved that.Of course the ending might be too far fetched for some especially since the explanation is fast and short.It did not matter to me since it was effective.Overall Midnight Killer is a very decent giallo that delivers.
- chrichtonsworld
- Apr 4, 2012
- Permalink
Generic but fun giallo from Lamberto Bava
One of the lesser seen of Lamberto Bava's gialli, Midnight Killer is a nifty little affair that won't rock any worlds but does deliver rather nicely. The plot begins with a drunk and jealous policeman fighting with his wife after suspecting her of infidelity. She is soon killed and suspicion falls on him, but things are a little more complicated and the bodies mount up. And what does a deceased serial killer have to do with it? Things are evenly paced and pretty engaging, though they don't really sparkle until the intense finale. The main problem is that there isn't really a clear hero, there are three nominal main characters and screen time is spread fairly evenly between them without letting any grow to a truly sympathetic level. The writing is light on characterization so the film bowls along rather than truly hooking, and worse there isn't much in the way of detective work or intrigue (though there are a few red herrings). Fortunately the mystery at hand is fairly interesting and the killings deliver, though not especially gory they're handled with flair and pack a decent vicious punch, we may not see gruesome detail but there's vigorous stabbing with a bit of blood and a nice nod to Tenebrae, all nicely edited for sharp and shocking punch (by Bava credited as John Old Jr.). Backed up with a cool pulsing score from Claudio Simonetti and making good use of some cool locations Bava makes each one count, though he lacks the genius of his father or the flowing technical prowess of the best in the genre he skillfully builds suspense and gets in some cool shots, like a top down view from the heights of a theatre. The underwritten cast do their best, with Valeria D'Obici coming off best as a committed criminal psychologist, edgy but likable she makes the strongest impression. Paolo Malco is dour inspector, stolidly by the book and watchable if a little dull. Leonardo Treviglio is a decent suspect with a shifty, unwholesome air about him and things are mostly rounded out by various young lovelies including Lara Wendell who brighten the screen with looks if not much in the way of presence. No nudity, a shame because it probably would have pushed things up a notch. Like I mentioned though the finale rocks, suspenseful stalking in a hotel with a couple of decent shocks leading to a decidedly silly reveal that doesn't really make sense in the context but is ludicrous enough to please. Altogether this is pretty cool stuff and worth your time, though only truly recommended to giallo aficionados
Lesser effort from Lamberto Bava
The director of Midnight Killer is Lamberto Bava, son of the legendary Mario. Lamberto's era was the 80's and he made several effective and fun horror films in that decade. So it is with some disappointment that I have to conclude that I thought Midnight Killer his weakest effort I have seen. It's very possible that Bava himself wasn't too crazy about this one either seeing as he went under a pseudonym.
The story follows a fairly typical giallo plot-line about serial murder. It borrows a bit from other earlier films from the genre like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Torso and Tenebrae. But it never approaches the standard of any of these. While Bava does manage to generate some decent suspense at times, overall the film is a little half-hearted. Even the soundtrack by the usually inspired Claudio Simonetti of Goblin fame is a fairly pedestrian synth score. The mystery itself isn't so obvious to work out but given the insane final explanation that is not really so surprising to be honest. In fact, the final killer reveal is especially daft even by giallo standards. It actually enters into Hanna-Barbera territory! It isn't as gory as many gialli and there isn't really any nudity but there still is a mean spiritedness to the scenes with the killer nevertheless. This is alleviated somewhat though by moments that enter the truly absurd, such as a part when one of the victims tries to defend herself with a kitchen blender! This scene is agreeably moronic and at least good for a chuckle.
I have to conclude that overall, while Midnight Killer has some good moments it isn't very good as a whole.
The story follows a fairly typical giallo plot-line about serial murder. It borrows a bit from other earlier films from the genre like The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Torso and Tenebrae. But it never approaches the standard of any of these. While Bava does manage to generate some decent suspense at times, overall the film is a little half-hearted. Even the soundtrack by the usually inspired Claudio Simonetti of Goblin fame is a fairly pedestrian synth score. The mystery itself isn't so obvious to work out but given the insane final explanation that is not really so surprising to be honest. In fact, the final killer reveal is especially daft even by giallo standards. It actually enters into Hanna-Barbera territory! It isn't as gory as many gialli and there isn't really any nudity but there still is a mean spiritedness to the scenes with the killer nevertheless. This is alleviated somewhat though by moments that enter the truly absurd, such as a part when one of the victims tries to defend herself with a kitchen blender! This scene is agreeably moronic and at least good for a chuckle.
I have to conclude that overall, while Midnight Killer has some good moments it isn't very good as a whole.
- Red-Barracuda
- Oct 10, 2013
- Permalink
Creative with Kitchenware!
Even though the truly golden years for the Italian giallo had passed since quite a while already, the decade of the 1980's still brought forward a handful of decent & memorable efforts. Two directors in particular kept this magnificent sub genre alive, namely Dario Argento (with his "Tenebrae" and "Opera") and Lamberto Bava. His best known giallo may be "A Blade in the Dark" but this "The Midnight Ripper" is arguable his best effort, alongside "Delirium: Photos of Gioia". Whatever the film lacks in originality and plausibility, it makes up in sheer suspense and gory good killings! When the adulterous wife of a police officer is found brutally stabbed in her apartment, her husband Nikola immediately becomes the prime suspect because he's an alcoholic and doesn't have an alibi. But when more murder occur in the city, a female police psycho-analyst points out that the nature of these killings strangely resemble the style of notorious Italian serial killer. The only problem is that this killer, nicknamed the Midnight Ripper, died in an arson more than ten years ago. No, sadly the plot of this film isn't as convoluted as those of 70's gialli, but it surely holds your attention and Lamberto Bava at least attempted to add some typical red herrings. The musical score is absolutely staggering, thanks to composer Claudio Simonetti (the main man behind the successful cult band Goblin). Ah yes, and then there are the murders.... Anyone who's familiar with other Bava titles such as "Demons" or "Macabre" knows that our director isn't afraid to stuff his films with sadistic violence and graphic gore. The gruesome murders in "The Midnight Ripper" are committed by ordinary kitchenware, such as knives, an ice-pick (eat your heart out, "Basic Instinct"!) and even a blender. It's a very cool film and I'm sure that every fan of Italian horror cinema will love watching it.
Not a lost gem waiting to be discovered
'You'll Die at Midnight' also known under other titles such as 'Midnight Ripper' & 'Midnight Horror' is a rather cheesy and quite enjoyable Italian made for TV Giallo/slasher flick from the 1980's directed by Lamberto Bava. This movie's plot is fairly routine and oddly structured and given its time period its lacking some much needed stylish visuals and interesting set-pieces that could have elevated things.
The plot begins with a man named Nicola (Leonardo Treviglio) who discovers his wife is cheating on him and after a violent argument she is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. Soon more young women begin to die at the hands of the maniac, is Nicola the killer or is it someone else?
Trying to find a classic Giallo flick from the late 80's onwards is a hard task, and you'll have to look through a lot of lesser efforts just to find anything decent. But sadly, this movie isn't quite a lost gem waiting to be discovered, instead this is a by the numbers Giallo that has been forgotten for a reason. The lack of suspense and violent or interesting death scenes really hurts this film and given that it was a made for TV production I can't fault the director on that one. Instead we get a mystery that isn't very compelling and a bunch of flatly written characters and wooden performances.
Overall 'You'll Die at Midnight' is certainly not the worst Giallo out there, it's just very average at best.
The plot begins with a man named Nicola (Leonardo Treviglio) who discovers his wife is cheating on him and after a violent argument she is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect. Soon more young women begin to die at the hands of the maniac, is Nicola the killer or is it someone else?
Trying to find a classic Giallo flick from the late 80's onwards is a hard task, and you'll have to look through a lot of lesser efforts just to find anything decent. But sadly, this movie isn't quite a lost gem waiting to be discovered, instead this is a by the numbers Giallo that has been forgotten for a reason. The lack of suspense and violent or interesting death scenes really hurts this film and given that it was a made for TV production I can't fault the director on that one. Instead we get a mystery that isn't very compelling and a bunch of flatly written characters and wooden performances.
Overall 'You'll Die at Midnight' is certainly not the worst Giallo out there, it's just very average at best.
- acidburn-10
- Feb 22, 2023
- Permalink
Interesting giallo
- BandSAboutMovies
- Mar 2, 2019
- Permalink
Not enjoyable...
Boring characters and story, bad acting and even more stupid plot twist, "Midnight Killer" is a below average movie that captures everything that could go wrong with a giallo movie. It isn't completely unwatchable, but I would lie if I told you I wasn't happy when it finally ended. There is that scene with electric mixer, so that's at least something funny to ease your pain. 5/10! I don't recommend it to anyone.
- markovd111
- Sep 30, 2020
- Permalink
Another very decent Giallo effort from Lamberto Bava!
Lamberto Bava's films may not have the cutting edge that many of his father's did, but the good thing about it is that you can always count on a decent thrill ride, and while You'll Die at Midnight doesn't set the genre on fire; it's a more than decent Giallo and I'm pretty certain that regular viewers will get a lot out of it. Being released in 1986, this one comes very late in the Giallo cycle although it recaptures that mysterious feel of the classic Giallo's well and the cinematography is good despite the fact that this obviously wasn't an A-class production. The plot is pure Giallo, and focuses on a murderer. We start by focusing on Nicola; a man who spots his wife buying lingerie and notices she has an affair. After arguing and almost killing her, he visits his colleague Anna, but shortly after he leaves the house; someone breaks in and murders his wife! Naturally, Nicola is the main suspect, but Anna, a psychologist, sees signs that the murder may have been committed by the so-called "Midnight Ripper". The only problem is that The Midnight Ripper has been dead for several years...
The film features lots of scenes reminiscent of classic Giallo's, and many of the murders are memorable. The kitchen scene is probably my favourite, but the murder scene inside a lingerie store has a more nasty edge. There isn't a great deal of variety with the weapons, but at least Lamberto ensures that the imagery is good and the film is always at least interesting. You'll Die at Midnight is pretty short, running at around 85 minutes and this is a good thing as it means that there is little filler and the film doesn't really have time to become boring. You'll Die at Midnight has more of a range of central victim characters than many other Giallo's too, and this makes the film more interesting as the killer appears to be after each one for different reasons. Naturally, it all builds into a final twist; which although somewhat silly (as the climaxes in these films often are), it's interesting enough and somehow (almost) makes sense in the context of the film. Overall, I can't say that this is a classic example of the genre; but like Lamberto's other Giallo attempts; it's certainly worth watching!
The film features lots of scenes reminiscent of classic Giallo's, and many of the murders are memorable. The kitchen scene is probably my favourite, but the murder scene inside a lingerie store has a more nasty edge. There isn't a great deal of variety with the weapons, but at least Lamberto ensures that the imagery is good and the film is always at least interesting. You'll Die at Midnight is pretty short, running at around 85 minutes and this is a good thing as it means that there is little filler and the film doesn't really have time to become boring. You'll Die at Midnight has more of a range of central victim characters than many other Giallo's too, and this makes the film more interesting as the killer appears to be after each one for different reasons. Naturally, it all builds into a final twist; which although somewhat silly (as the climaxes in these films often are), it's interesting enough and somehow (almost) makes sense in the context of the film. Overall, I can't say that this is a classic example of the genre; but like Lamberto's other Giallo attempts; it's certainly worth watching!
Satisfactory thriller
"Morirai a mezzanotte" begins with a husband suspected to have murdered his wife, but when more victims die, it becomes obvious that there is a serial killer at work. As the inspector continues his investigation, he realises that his daughter is also on the list of targets...
A good thriller by Lamberto Bava, with fine craftsmanship such as the camera work in the museum, or the script's clever introduction of more suspects. Maybe not on the same level as some 70s giallo classics, but well done and worth watching.
A good thriller by Lamberto Bava, with fine craftsmanship such as the camera work in the museum, or the script's clever introduction of more suspects. Maybe not on the same level as some 70s giallo classics, but well done and worth watching.
- unbrokenmetal
- Jan 28, 2021
- Permalink
The Post-Tenebre Giallo
A police officer, Nicola, violently argues with his rich wife, Sarah, because of her affair with a man, and goes to his female friend, Anne, a psychologist/ professor. But Sarah was murdered in the bathroom of the house, and most parts of the police think Nicola is the primary suspect, except Piero, an inspector of the case, who realises that what the still-unknown-murderer really wants is his daughter, Carol who is one of the students of Anne... If one expect something cinematically new in this film, (s)he will be disappointed strictly because there is almost nothing new. But (s)he is a fun of Giallo films, I think (s)he can love this because whole the film consisted of selective elements of Giallo films, notably of Dario Argento's TENEBRE and FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET. For instance, the music composer of this film is Claudio Simonetti of the GOBLIN (and he does an excellent job here), and Lara Wendel of TENEBRE's youngest victim, Maria, plays the short-haired fair heroine, Carol (and her boyish attractiveness adds a fresh atmosphere to the film). But above all, particularly with the regard to the plot, the influence of FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET is much stronger, and one can even say this film is a post-TENEBRE remake of it.
Run-of-the-mill thriller
A psycho strikes again, except that he's been dead for a while. though the scenario just goes through the motion, this movie manages to be sometimes effective (especially the ending in a deserted building by the sea) though not really creepy.
Basically, it has the feel of a (honest) TV movie. Maybe the post-Scream crowd will enjoy this. Maybe
Basically, it has the feel of a (honest) TV movie. Maybe the post-Scream crowd will enjoy this. Maybe
Decent enough rare giallo that deserves a second look...
- LuisitoJoaquinGonzalez
- Aug 12, 2005
- Permalink
Enjoyable and will be fun to watch again to see if too much cheating went on!
It is not very original and it is impossible to predict the outcome because it is so ridiculous. But otherwise there is plenty to enjoy with lots of gory killings and if there is less flesh on display than one might expect this is probably because of the film's TV origins. The movie has style and is helped by a decent score and to Bava's credit he does keep the film moving and makes the police investigations as interesting as possible, particularly in this case perhaps because of their seeming involvement. Enjoyable and will be fun to watch again to see if too much cheating went on! You'll know what I mean when you have seen it, oh and the title has no relevance but do they ever in giallo?
- christopher-underwood
- Nov 25, 2005
- Permalink
You'll Die at Midnight is a mediocre addition to the giallo genre but is still worth a watch for genre fans
I recently watched the Italian giallo 🇮🇹 You'll Die at Midnight (1986) on Tubi. The storyline follows a man who gets into an argument with his wife, who shortly thereafter ends up stabbed to death. He goes on the run from authorities and decides to stay with his ex-girlfriend, who reluctantly agrees to help him. As he searches for clues to clear his name, he's fortunate that his ex-girlfriend is assigned to the case. However, as bodies start piling up, it becomes increasingly hard for him to hide.
This film is directed by Lamberto Bava (Demons) and stars Valeria D'Obici (Escape from the Bronx), Leonardo Treviglio (Titus), Eliana Miglio (Demons), and Paolo Malco (The New York Ripper).
This is a unique giallo that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. The storytelling and dialogue feel like an 80s soap opera at times, despite having a unique and interesting premise. The opening shower scene was disappointing and a far cry from Psycho. The kill scenes are classic giallo, with stalking elements and limited gore but enjoyable stab scenes. The diverse kill settings add an extra layer of interest. The killer's mask was cool and reminded me of Mr. Bean. The final reveal was solid.
In conclusion, You'll Die at Midnight is a mediocre addition to the giallo genre but is still worth a watch for genre fans. I would score this a 5/10 and recommend it with appropriate expectations.
This film is directed by Lamberto Bava (Demons) and stars Valeria D'Obici (Escape from the Bronx), Leonardo Treviglio (Titus), Eliana Miglio (Demons), and Paolo Malco (The New York Ripper).
This is a unique giallo that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. The storytelling and dialogue feel like an 80s soap opera at times, despite having a unique and interesting premise. The opening shower scene was disappointing and a far cry from Psycho. The kill scenes are classic giallo, with stalking elements and limited gore but enjoyable stab scenes. The diverse kill settings add an extra layer of interest. The killer's mask was cool and reminded me of Mr. Bean. The final reveal was solid.
In conclusion, You'll Die at Midnight is a mediocre addition to the giallo genre but is still worth a watch for genre fans. I would score this a 5/10 and recommend it with appropriate expectations.
- kevin_robbins
- Jun 7, 2024
- Permalink
Mellow Giallo
A cop (Leonardo Treviglio) has a domestic dispute with his wife Sara. Sara is murdered by a black gloved serial killer and he becomes the suspect.
Directed by Lamberto Bava who is no stranger to Giallo films this a run of the mill stalk and slash mystery. Bava was said to be sickened by the film so much so that he went to doing more fantastical fare like 'Demons'.
This film has all the hallmarks of good Giallo: black gloved killer, surprise twists, gory violence, nice photography, sexy women and a great score by Claudio Simonetti (who scored some of the music for Argento's 'Opera'). As a whole it just feels a bit sort of generic and lacks the magic spark of films like 'Suspiria' and 'Blood and Black Lace' have. I'm not sure why as from a technical viewpoint it is top rate. The cast are veterans of the genre with Valeria D'Obici,Leonardo Treviglio and Lara Wendel being some of the names.
Maybe it's just personal preference why I find it lacking something. Perhaps the violence while undeniably nasty isn't really shocking. Maybe it's not sleazy enough for me. The storyline not that compelling. That said I can see Giallo and Euro-Horror Fans fans lapping this up, but not the casual "gore film" viewer.
Directed by Lamberto Bava who is no stranger to Giallo films this a run of the mill stalk and slash mystery. Bava was said to be sickened by the film so much so that he went to doing more fantastical fare like 'Demons'.
This film has all the hallmarks of good Giallo: black gloved killer, surprise twists, gory violence, nice photography, sexy women and a great score by Claudio Simonetti (who scored some of the music for Argento's 'Opera'). As a whole it just feels a bit sort of generic and lacks the magic spark of films like 'Suspiria' and 'Blood and Black Lace' have. I'm not sure why as from a technical viewpoint it is top rate. The cast are veterans of the genre with Valeria D'Obici,Leonardo Treviglio and Lara Wendel being some of the names.
Maybe it's just personal preference why I find it lacking something. Perhaps the violence while undeniably nasty isn't really shocking. Maybe it's not sleazy enough for me. The storyline not that compelling. That said I can see Giallo and Euro-Horror Fans fans lapping this up, but not the casual "gore film" viewer.
- ninjaalexs
- Jun 5, 2020
- Permalink