Stefano (Lino Capolicchio) is an art restorer. He has been hired by Mayor Solmi (Bob Tonelli), from a small island village, to restore a fresco in the local church. Stefano was recommended for the job by his friend, Dr. Antonio Mazza (Giulio Pizzirani). The fresco is supposedly of the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. The painting shows the Saint being stabbed to death by two women wielding knives. The painting was done on a wall that is slowing being destroyed.
The artist of the piece was a troubled man named Buono Legnani (Tonino Corazzari). Legnani was often referred to as “The Painter of the Agony”. His specialty was portraits of dying people. At one point, Legnani, his two sisters and his mother moved to Brazil to learn about the dark arts. The mother supposedly died in Brazil and the others moved back to the village. After they returned, they built a small house outside of town. Eventually the others reportedly died. Legnani set himself on fire and ran off into the woods, his body was never found.
At first Stefano takes up a room at the local inn. Eventually he is forced to leave the inn when the proprietor tells him a special visitor is coming and was promised his room. A local, Lidio (Pietro Brambilla), takes Stefano to an old mansion. He tells him that he can stay there and that the only other person in the house is an old bedridden woman, Laura (Pina Borione).
As he works on the fresco, Stefano begins getting mysterious threats from a voice over the phone telling him to stop working on the restoration and to leave the village. Stefano meets and becomes romantically involved with the new schoolteacher, Francesca (Francesca Marciano). Curious of the artist and his past, Stefano begins researching Legnani and learns more horrific things about him and his sisters. Then he finds out that Legnani and the sisters were responsible for the murders of several women in the area.
While deeply involved in his work and research, anyone who has confided in Stefano begins dying. Stefano begins to wonder if Legnani is really dead or if there is a larger secret that involves the whole town.
“The House with the Laughing Windows” AKA “La casa dalle finestre che ridono” was released in 1976 and was directed by Pupi Avati. It is an Italian horror thriller and a giallo.
The film has been hyped as one of the best giallo ever. I’m not sure I agree with that, but I’m no expert in gialli anyway. Let’s just say that I didn’t care for it as much as other films I’ve seen in the genre. It is, however, one of the least bloody giallo I’ve seen.
I found it to be a little confusing. Not because the plot is complex or anything, but it seems that they spent so much time trying to keep the suspense that they lost me in the weeds. Sure, there’s plenty of atmosphere and creepy vibes and an interesting twist at the end, but the trip along the way didn’t hold my attention the way it should have. You can gate-keep the final gotcha only so long before you start losing me.