The Cat O' Nine Tails

Proving he is far more than just elaborate set-pieces, Argento’s overlooked second feature is ripe for reappraisal.

With investors keen to cash in on his debut’s success, Argento was rushed into production on his sophomore whodunit, this time concerning a reporter who teams up with a blind cruciverbalist to investigate a series of murders linked to a shifty pharmaceutical company. With its intricate – borderline Byzantine – plot leaving little time for lavishly violent set-pieces, the film lacks the instant pizzazz of his best-loved work. But for the patient, it’s an underrated treasure-trove of low-key excess and restrained perversion. This presentation is in Italian language with English subtitles.