The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

Dario Argento's first is a pretty standard Giallo. For its time, it must've been quite something else, but as someone who isn't a big fan of the genre, it's hardly a film that stands out. It does have that first-time director energy that makes it a tad easier to appreciate, other than that the name and poster are by far the most beautiful things about the film.

Sam is an American living in Rome. One day he wanders through an art gallery and he witnesses an attack on a young woman. She survives, but the killer can't leave Sam alone and starts stalking him and his girlfriend. The only way for Sam to be safe is to unmask the killer before he kills them.

The performances aren't too great, the murders are a little clunky and the story is simple (the twist included). It's typical genre fare, and while some of it is pretty stylized in its own particular way, it just doesn't gel with me. Fans of Argento and Giallo cinema should give it a go though, it's one of the better ones I've seen so far.