PLOT OF FEAR (aka BLOODY PEANUTS, E TANTA PAURA,1976)

Directed by Paolo Cavara
Written by Paolo Cavara (story), Enrico Oldoini, Bernardino Zapponi
Starring Corinne Cléry, Michele Placido, Quinto Parmeggiani, Edoardo Faieta, Tom Skerritt, Eli Wallach

Here’s another Giallo mystery thriller about a murderer who not only likes leaving pictures from a children’s book at the murder scene but also loves scrapbooking the obituaries. PLOT OF FEAR also known as BLOODY PEANUTS for some reason, follows a conspiracy and an effort by a pair of detectives to uncover it. As with most Giallo films, PLOT OF FEAR’s strengths lie in its elaborate spectaclar death scenes.

The plot of PLOT OF FEAR is pretty elaborate involving multiple characters, conspiracy, backstabbing, and deception. I have to admit, I tuned out half way through and just enjoyed the murder scenes which come often and vary in creative value. Some are gory with bright reds indicative of these types of films. Others were incredibly complex, especially the scene where a man is chased into the middle of the street then hit by a car. All have the vibrant camera work and attention to gore that most films of this sort exude.

Performances range from shoddy to great with appearances by familiar faces Tom Skerritt and Eli Wallach in minor roles (though their voices seem to be dubbed). There is also a bevy of beautiful babes as the conspiracy involves a model and plenty of hookers. It’s doubtful the methodology behind the killer’s motivations appear to be of the same style as we have seen in modern films such as SE7EN and its knockoffs. But what the film lacks in linear storytelling, it makes it up with craziness. If anyone were to wander into this film halfway, they are sure to be confused as there is everything here from an angered tiger in a cage to animated porn watched by a group of upper-class people and a chimpanzee.

Not the most logical film, but nevertheless entertaining, PLOT OF FEAR offers up a myriad of cool scenes seemingly only loosely threaded together by a plot of conspiracy and murder.