Stage Fright

Dir: Michele Soavi
Star: Barbara Cupisti, David Brandon, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Loredana Parrella

[4] The first feature from the director of The Church is A Chorus Line crossbred with Friday the 13th - a group of actors is locked in a theatre with a homicidal maniac, who picks them off one by one; an almost plausible plot compared to some Italian films. Though that aspect lacks originality, lots of directorial flair helps overcome the deficiencies and some scenes are startling; an owl wielding a chainsaw!??! It's almost Mario Bava quality, and it certainly isn't Lamberto - sheer gratitude for that alone gets it...

7/10

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