Casa dalle finestre che ridono, La (1976)

Director:

Pupi Avati

Writers:

Antonio Avati (screenplay)
Antonio Avati (story)

Release Date:

16 August 1976 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Drama

Plot:

Stefano, a young restorer is commissioned to save a fresco representing the suffering of St. Sebastiano...

Plot Keywords:

Italian Horror | Surreal | Giallo | Bizarre | Crucifix

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lino Capolicchio	...	Stefano
Francesca Marciano	...	Francesca
Gianni Cavina	...	Coppola
Giulio Pizzirani	...	Antonio Mazza
Bob Tonelli	...	Mayor Solmi
Vanna Busoni	...	Teacher
Pietro Brambilla	...	Lidio
Ferdinando Orlandi	...	Police Marshall
Andrea Matteuzzi	...	Poppi
Ines Ciaschetti	...	Concierge
Pina Borione	...	Paraplegic Woman
Flavia Giorgi	...	Poppi's Wife
Arrigo Lucchini	...	Grocer
Carla Astolfi	...	Chambermaid at Boarding House
Luciano Bianchi	...	Franchini the Librarian

Also Known As:

House with the Windows That Laugh
The House of the Laughing Windows (USA) (DVD title)
The House with Laughing Windows (USA) (DVD box title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 | France:-12 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Cento, Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Company:

A.M.A. Film

Stick with it until the end.

"The House With Laughing Windows" is a very European film. Unlike the gialli of, say, Argento, this film is not 'Americanized' at all. It reminds me more of films like "Don't Torture a Duckling" in that it takes place out in a small town in the Italian countryside. It adds to the ambiance and I really like that.

The plot is very slow-moving. I'm not even sure if I'd call this film a giallo, but reading other reviews on here, it seems that it is in fact classified as such. It was hard for me to watch this for the first hour or so. I was wondering when it was going to pick up. Not many people get killed. But, I stuck with it and I recommend doing so. If you can stick with it, the ending is freakin' awesome. I was shocked by it; it really delivers. And it gets nice and bloody too. I had no idea who the killer was, and by the time I found out, my head was spinning from the progression of the final few scenes. It ends abruptly and it feels great. It more than made up for the sluggishness of the first 2/3 of the film. It's not unlike many of the newer Asian films in that regard: it moves very slow but the last few minutes are like a twisting train wreck.

In short, I recommend this film to those of you who have patience and enjoy Italian horror.

8 out of 10, kids.