Director(s) – Luciano Onetti (What the Waters Left Behind, Francesca) and Nicolas Onetti (The 100 Candles Game)
Starring – German Baudino (Dead Heart, Blood Brothers), Eugenia Rigon (Dead End, Astrogauchos), and Gustavo Dalessanro (Francesca)
Release Date – 2018
Rating – 4/5
Tagline – “What the eyes see and the ears hear, the mind believes!”
It’s been sometime since my last giallo review but it looks like that is about to change. A few days back I reviewed the 2017 horror film What the Waters Left Behind that was sent my way from Unearthed Films and MVD. It was a solid and well made horror film with plenty of blood. The filmmakers behind the film, Luciano and Nicolas Onetti, also made a giallo in 2018 that was finding release from the newly formed Cauldron Films. When I received the press release I was not only curious about the film but the newly formed company. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. Thanks guys!
**Spoiler Alert**The film follows a stage magician that has a gambling problem. When not performing on stage he can be found using his slight of hand to cheat at cards which is not always successful. His already chaotic lifestyle is tossed even more upside down when a string of murders occur that coincides with his stage act returning to the stage in which his father was murdered on so many years ago.
**Spoiler Alert**
Luciano Onetti previously made two top notch giallos that not only embodied the look and style of classic 70s giallos, but also, delivered that fantastic murder mystery storyline that made those films so much fun to watch. The Onetti Brothers mixed it up on us with WtWLB but returned to the land of giallo with another worthy entry in Abrakadabra.
The acting in this one is great. German Baudino is fantastic as the aging magician struggling with gambling addiction and his father’s death. He is great and really carried the film. The supporting cast is great as well. Many of which are classic giallo clichés but they full embody those clichés to give the film that authentic look and feel. The cast is fantastic at this. The story for this one pays perfect tribute to giallos of yesteryear. It’s a murder mystery that continuously throws the viewer for loops. You never know who the real killer is and the final reveal is very unexpected. They craft a beautiful giallo that many try to duplicate but never can replicate.
Finally, the film has several deaths. We get plenty of blood and kills that fit the film but those of you wanting gore will be disappointed. Most giallo fans know what to expect and the film delivers on the deaths. Overall, Abrakadabra is a beautifully shot and finely tuned homage to giallos that has a great cast, beautiful writing, and damn near flawless execution. I highly suggest giving this one a spin.
