The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  7 / 10

  The Bird With The Crystal Plumage glistens with brutal murders and thrills, if occasionally unpolished. Dario Argento's directorial debut is one that would cement him as the leading figure of the giallo movement. Frame cuts, vivid imagery, visceral violence (especially for its time) and that Italian aroma that just makes you lust for your mum's spaghetti. Whilst more straightforward in comparison to his other features, Crystal Plumage still manages to be a well crafted mystery thriller. After witnessing an attempted murder, an American starts becoming obsessed in investigating the grisly murders of young women. Unsurprisingly the first five minutes didn't exactly capture my interest. Conversations were dull and technical aesthetics were unpolished, particularly noticing the camera on reflecting surfaces. Obviously Argento did not have the biggest budget for this, so it could be said that its unpolished quality is part of the charm, however it irrefutably does take you out of the film. But then, we witness the first attempted murder. The protagonist trapped in a glass box, helplessly watching the stabbed damsel scream with crimson blood trickling down her pure white attire. This, this is what defines an Argento flick. He somehow turns violence and sadism into art. Whether it be the pristine production set pieces or the innovative editing that follows. It instantly lures you in, and rarely lets go. The plot itself is a simple murder mystery. An investigation in finding the culprit. There aren't enough characters to allow you to deduce the culprit by yourself, although the mystery itself is always involving. Right up to the final reveal. The classic 70s death sequences (mmm those obnoxiously loud screams!) and exaggerated acting hones in on its B-movie tropes, especially an expressionless Musante that had less range than a margarita pizza. Overall it's a good mystery, one that I enjoyed more than I thought I would. It's not the shining diamond that it's claimed to be, but certainly worthy of its priceless acclaim and one that allowed Argento to create more influential films.

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