The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh

(1971) ***1/2



Mrs. Julie Wardh has returned home from a trip with her husband to discover that a black-gloved killer has been murdering women. Julie is married to Neil, an ambassador that is often absent from their marriage. She married him to escape her masochistic ex-boyfriend Jean that is shown in Julie’s flashback scenes beating then raping her, and cutting her with broken glass bottles. Bored in her marriage, Julie gets involved with “playboy” George. Julie has sex with George, and then receives a phone call threatening to tell her husband if she does not pay a ransom. She is instructed to meet at a park, with the money, at a specified time. Julie’s friend is convinced that Jean is the blackmailer and insists on going in Julie’s place so she can set the crazy bastard straight. The friend winds up dead and Julie is convinced that Jean is the black-gloved killer. Is Julie right and will she be the next victim?

"Crazy" Jean

"Playboy" George

George and Julie

The plot takes several turns and ends up not going where the viewer would expect it to. This film isn’t by any means spectacular, but it is enjoyable. The structure of the story is not always consistent. Style takes dominance over content in this film. I have watched two other films by director Sergio Martino, and I am noticing this is the pattern. I am also noticing that I like his style.The film has some interesting point-of-view shots, nice composition, and a beautiful Italian landscape. The score by Nora Orlandi is nice, and parts of it were re-used by Tarantino in Kill Bill Volume 2. This is Martino’s first giallo.

One of the black-gloved killer's victims. There is a great POV shot of this victim watching the killer run out of the bathroom while her body flops over as she dies.


I almost forgot to mention the best part. I had the option of watching it in Italian with English subtitles.