Undescribable Perfection

Too many fans seem to be blown away

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Personally I don't really like it, nor do I think it's a very bright idea, when the body count of the horror movie you're about to watch already gets spoiled in the title… Seriously, five women for the killer? Well, okay, that pretty much suggests there will be five female casualties, but don't get your hopes up too much for witnessing much more carnage that this. It's a shame, really, because one of the many reasons why I seek out Italian gialli movies is the often unpredictable and unrestricted amount of gruesome murdering going on! I still definitely wanted to watch "Five Women for the Killer", of course, and mainly because it was writer/director Stelvio Massi's only genuine excursion into the giallo-domain. The underrated Massi made nearly two dozens of awesome Poliziotteschi thrillers, and most of them – like "Emergency Squad" or "Convoy Busters" to name just two – were so damn brutish and sadist that I really wondered what a giallo of his would look like. This one-man jury's verdict states that "Five Women for the Killer" is an adequate and more than watchable giallo, but it certainly isn't one of the genre's prime examples or highlights. The plot is reasonably tense and compelling, albeit also sluggish from time to time. The murders and particularly the killer's motives and choice of victims are vile and just a tad bit disturbing. Like in most Italian gialli, the psychopath targets pretty young women, but here the victims all recently found out that they were pregnant and our crazed killer viciously cuts open their stomach and intimate parts. The murders begin shortly after journalist Giorgio Pisani loses his wife whilst giving birth to their premature son. No wait, the murders only begin when Giorgio learns from his doctor and friend that he is – in fact – infertile and couldn't have been the child's father. Can't Giorgio accept that his wife was unfaithful and does he extract his vengeance on the pregnant women in his surrounding? Or is this just what the real killer wants everybody – and the police in particular - to think? "Five Women for the Killer" doesn't feature any great names in the cast, but the performances are solid and convincing. All the girls in the cast are ravishing and provide glorious full-frontal nudity (unshaved was still the standard), but of course they get savagely slaughtered shortly after so it's not a very sexy climax. Recommended for giallo-fanatics and fellow sick puppies all over the world!

A writer's wife dies giving birth prematurely. The child is placed in a health clinic. It is there that the writer learns he is sterile. Soon after, pregnant women begin to be killed, all of whom either crossed the writer's path or are related to the clinic where the writer's child is recovering. The police suspect the writer. Is he the killer? Five Women for the Killer is a competently made Italian thriller (a giallo). The film lacks the baroque style of the best of the genre and most of the murders occur off screen. Furthermore, while the film has its moments of graphicness, it does not quite revel in the sleaze like some of its peers. Still, the film is a worthwhile view for a few reasons.First, the film successfully utilizes the stand-by of the clue that can't be remembered. The protagonist has seen something that he cannot remember, but he knows it's important. In some movies (like Deep Red), the clue is rather illogically recalled, but, here, both the clue and its recall are believable (and can be spotted by close watching viewers).Second, the film's plot tries to be a mystery that can be solved through clues. The film plays fair with its mystery, and even provides something of a twist at the end. Third, although the killer wears gloves, they are not black! Few will regard 5 Women for the Killer as a must see. However, the film generally holds interest. Fans of Euro-thrillers might want to give it a try.

The legendary Italian genre filmmaker Stelvio Massi takes a rare foray into the heady, be-gloved milieu of the schlocky Giallo with 'Five Women for The Killer'; and for my money it makes for a diverting piece, besides it's somewhat curious seeing the urbane British character actor, Francis 'Dracula' Matthews in such luridly unfamiliar surroundings! The only other Giallo I am aware Massi shot was the much-loved 'The Case of The Bloody Iris' starring the delightful, yet curiously moniker-ed Edwige Fenech. Massi is generally known for his boisterous euro-crime efforts, but he is a more than capable director whose CV boasts some rather exemplary titles. It must also be noted that the sleazy premise is rather unsettling, and the initial murder is a rather grim affair, reminded me a tad of an equally unsavory Joe D'Amato effort. (Absurd etc.)

When Giorgio Pisani returns home he finds his wife (that was expecting a baby) dead, but their child is alive. But then he discovers something that unsettles him.... and strangely enough someone starts to kill all pregnant women around. The police step in to investigate the murders.This is a strange giallo – In 1974, Stelvio Massi made 3 films – "Macrò", "Squadra volante" and "5 donne per l'assassino". This may explain why the film has such an air of improvisation - the story is chaotically told and the film is uneven. Massi wanted to make a sophisticated, atmospheric giallo and sometimes he succeeds in creating good moments, thanks mainly to a good camera work. Active hand-held cameras following the action, a fast editing and zooms in and out skillfully used, give the film an almost frantic feel . There's also an inspired and flamboyant soundtrack (ranging from free jazz to romantic themes) that sometimes seems somewhat unrelated to the images. Limitations of time and budget gave the murder scenes (some of them good) an incomplete look – the final touch that crowns them is kind of amateurish. The main attraction of "5 donne per l'assassino" is the female cast – delicious eurobabes that are not shy of nudity, be it while they're making love, be it while they're being killed. In short, the story in "5 donne per l'assassino" is simple and not very original, but the film is frenetic and extravagant. "5 donne per l'assassino" has its moments, but it's not a "good" film (too irregular for that!), still, real giallo buffs may discover something under its rough/stylish surface.