In Michael Zampino’s 2010 “giallo-esque” film (did I just make up that word? I don’t know what else to call it), Bruno inherits a run-down house in the country from his father, and when he goes back to claim it, the creepy neighbors become problematic. L’Erede the Heir, is intriguing, but maybe not in the way Zampino intended.
I don’t know enough about the Italian giallo films of the ’60s and ’70s to make an educated comparison, and I don’t even know if they should be compared, but L’Erede has the crucial elements; mystery, sex, and general creepiness, but in a campy, kitschy way. As a matter of fact, the creepier the neighbors get, the funnier the plot, and Bruno’s “curse” is more of a ridiculous predicament that he’s gotten himself into due to not paying attention to said creepiness.
This is a low-budget film, made for an estimated €700,000, and that explains a lot. I’m not saying I hated it; it’s possible that I just don’t have the proper appreciation for the genre. It’s not excessively violent or sexual – in the scariest scene Bruno gets locked in a rabbit hutch. Is it supposed to be perversely amusing? If so, thumbs up Zampino; you got it right.
Director: Michael Zampino
Writers: Ugo Chiti, Michael Zampino
Stars: Guia Jelo, Davide Lorino and Maria Sole Mansutti
No English Subtitles/ PAL Zone 2 DVD
I Love Italian Everything 