The Daily Dig: Fatal Frames (1996)

With structure thrown to the wind, Festa uses his music video experience to make the pseudo giallo “Fatal Frames” look as slick as possible.

An in-demand music video director from the U.S. comes to Italy to film an Italian pop star and is drawn into a local killer’s game of murder and snuff films. Let’s dig into 1996’s FATAL FRAMES, directed by Al Festa!

As I See It

Using filters instead of focusing on pacing, structure, and story seems almost cliche from a music video director.

We live in a time when Scorsese is releasing films that are almost four hours long. The key point here is that it’s Scorsese that gets that freedom. Everyone else gets yelled at for going past page ninety-six. It’s no wonder that there were issues off-camera with financing as the investors backed out mid-shoot, delaying the film for almost two years until enough capital could be raised to continue this two-hour-plus epic scattershot.

The one element the whole film can fall back on is the special effects that are utilized in the August Underground-style snuff films the killer sends to the police. That seems to be thanks to the legend Steve Johnson. The killer’s mask wasn’t any challenge as it looks like an unfinished version of The Watchmen’s Rorschach mask.

In the end, colored gels are hardly enough to make the story interesting.

Famous Faces

Linnea Quigley (Wendy Williams) is a true scream queen, and it is no wonder she was included in the three-headed monster of high-profile American (British in Pleasence’s case) genre actors that were imported to lend validity to the production. My favorite role of hers is Trash in Return of the Living Dead.

Donald Pleasence (Professor Robinson) filmed his scenes in 1993 and passed before the film was released. Michael Myers’ long-time shrink could have/should have had a better Swan song.

Angus Scrimm (Man in Grey) was Tall Man in the Phantasm series of films.

Rick Gianasi (Alex) is a frequent Troma actor and plays none other than the titular role in Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.

Of Gratuitous Nature

A video director and the pop star having some Skinemax sex while her video plays in the background sounds about right for the time period. I have to say, there is no reason this movie needed to be over two hours long.

Heartthrob

The truth is I NEVER think of the Roman Empire, but I can’t deny how beautiful the ruins of the Colosseum are. It’s used as the backdrop of a music video in this film. Not a bad background.

Ripe for a Remake

It was contrived to bring together the older Italian style filmmaking and acting with the modern American talent, but by 1996, Donald Pleasence (who was deceased), Angus Scrimm, and even Linnea Quigley were hardly “new blood”. I’ve yet to see anyone shoot an homage to Giallo that feels authentic. Even the Suspiria remake stood outside.

Spawns

No progeny to report.

Where to Watch

Synapse Films released a DVD of Fatal Frames way back in 2001. There is no US high-definition physical release, but an Italian version is kicking around.