Hotel Fear (1978)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

The Worst Film Ever

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Long neglected Gothic Giallo from Francesco Barilli that is entirely undeserving of such treatment. I have noticed that Luc Merenda is generally given short shrift as an actor, which is something I've never truly understood, but even his skeptics might be in for a pleasant surprise here, as he really delivers an excellent performance as a sleazebag, rapist Lothario replete with a righteous scumbag 'tash and oily, slick-backed barnet. Mention must be made of the excellent score by Adolfo Waitzman who creates a subtle sense of fear and degeneracy to the Gothic proceedings. For me personally this film is a truly great discovery and one more needlessly obscure Italian thriller that towers above much of the tedium produced today.

Pensione Paura (Fear Hotel on the print I saw) is a decent, slow-burning thriller. Set toward the end of WWII, Leonora Fani plays Rosa, a girl living in a hotel owned by her mother. Her father is away in the war and Rosa writes letters she cannot send to him. The hotel's guests are a strange and unlikeable group hiding out from the war. There is a pimp with his two prostitutes, a widower with an unhealthy fixation on Rosa, an older rich woman with a younger lover named Rudolph (Luc Merenda). This gigolo has his eyes on Rosa. In addition, hidden away in an upstairs room is the lover of Rosa's mother. He deserted the war and is rumored to have caused some tragedy to his fellow soldiers. Right from the beginning, there is a sexual tension between these guests and Rosa. Then, Rosa's mother dies in an accident. Rosa is left alone to run the hotel with only one drunken, unhelpful servant. The viewer knows something bad is going to happen. Further suspense comes with the arrival of two last guests, both men dressed in black, one carrying a switchblade. Both have the look of professional killers. Have they came for the lover hidden away or for some other reason? Fear Hotel does a surprisingly good job at building a tense atmosphere. Little happens for most of the movie but, thanks to the actors and the evocative cinematography, the viewer keeps watching. However, there are some problems. The film's attempt to become a murder mystery in the last third does not work. The finale, while appropriately grim, has a denouncement that did not work for this viewer. Having acknowledged these, Fear Hotel was better than expected. Leonora Fani, the attractive star of Kyra (aka House by the Edge of the Lake), was the reason I watched Fear Hotel. In addition to her physical charms, Fani convinces as an innocent teenager, even though she was in her early twenties at the time of filming.

Hat tip to Giallo Trailers for turning me on to this title. It's not listed in any of the usual "must see" giallo reviews, so I would have missed out otherwise. I searched for this title for some time and only recently found, after having forgotten about it for a time, that it was now available on Italian DVD with no subtitles. Even then, I couldn't find it at my usual sources.However, some kind soul uploaded the entire movie and I watched it last night. While not a Giallo masterwork, it is a very good little film. Creepy atmosphere, little blood, great setting. If you don't speak a lick of Italian, I still think you can follow the story pretty well.Circa 1945, in a small Italian village, a mom and daughter run an old rundown boarding house, with peeling plaster and bricked windows a plenty, somewhat isolated from the town. I was immediately struck by the Agatha Christie-feel of the plot and scenes similar to those being churned out in the 70's. The daughter, Rosa, is amazingly beautiful and innocent, handling the role very well in spite of some considerable nudity. Seriously, the movie is rife with cunnilingus, which is unusual to say the least. There is also a rape scene, and you see more male buttocks that you might like. The rogue's gallery of characters include a drunk man-servant, a balding, lonely piano player, a Burt Reynolds / Antonio Banderas type and his older wife, a horny fat guy and his girlfriends. You have to be prepared for nothing to happen for the first hour. This isn't to say you'll be bored. Art house cinema fans will dig it, but it doesn't beat you over the head with its intentions. Also, there is a man hiding away in the mother's room. She brings him food every night after everyone is supposed to be asleep. I do feel a little guilty about writing a review for a movie whose dialogue I couldn't truly follow, so if my guesses at character motivation are a little off, forgive me. I think the man is the mother's lover whom she's taken in while her husband is fighting in the war.The mom dies in an "accident" which leaves the comely Rosa to run the house. This proves to be rather difficult since now that her mother is dead, every man in the house openly lusts after her. And that's not all that's afoot. There's a shadowy killer stalking the corridors and dripping staircases. However, if you are looking for that to be the central theme, you might be disappointed. It takes a backseat to the setting and character development. Enter a few gangsters who stir things up. A wandering Rosa starts hearing and seeing things she shouldn't, which helps the story along. I made note of several instances where I was reminded of Suspiria, mainly with color use and voyeuristic POV shots, plus a few eyeball close ups. The score occasionally picks up and dazzles.My suggestion is that you only see this if you are into Italian art house cult cinema or giallo films. If you are looking for a straight up stalking razor killer with high body counts, look elsewhere. Oh, there are lots of deaths, but not in the giallo style, shall we say.

"Pensione Paura" takes place in northern Italy during the last months of World War 2 - the war is not really important for the story of the film, but rather its psychological aspects. The authorities in power are about to fall and new authorities will soon take over. There's in reality a power void, and this stimulates the people to drop their masks and live out their desires - there's just a thin veil of control holding them in place. The war is something far away. The only time the war shows its presence is during a night air raid. What really concerns the people (as always) is their own survival. In this nowhere land, Marta (Lidia Biondi), seconded by her daughter Rosa (Leonora Fani), runs a hotel. The hotel's guests are dubious and/or shady characters. There's a man who lost all his family in a bombardment and he walks around mumbling about his family, spying on other people. What's up with him? There's also a sleazy gigolo, Rodolfo (Luc Merenda) and his rich lover (Jole Fierro). Rodolfo doesn't limit himself to exploiting rich women, he has still other plans in mind, but what really turns him on is the sight of Rosa. He lusts after her. There's Marta's lover (Francisco Rabal) hidden in a room in a distant corner of the hotel. He's in hiding for political reasons. Two noisy war profiteers (so it seems) and their lovers complete the picture.One night we hear a shrill cry. A body is found. Now Rosa stands alone in the world.What really happened? The hotel, its dark corridors, its mysterious guests - a vague but also very real threat seems to hover around. The arrival of two unexpected guests with a very suspicious behavior (thugs? police?) thickens the plot still more.Rosa has a father that is away fighting with the partisans. Rosa thinks of him, writes to him. She thinks that when he comes back everything will be alright again. But meanwhile, the black cloud has grown larger and larger - violence and murders...And red becomes the color. The climax is really delirious, and by the ending of the film we are left with a great interrogation mark. So violent and yet so peaceful! "Pensione Paura" is a showcase, particularly for Leonora Fani (her beauty and talent), but all the cast deliver good performances. Francesco Barilli directed the masterpiece "Il profumo della signora in nero" and gives us with "Pensione Paura", another worthy film. In spite of their obvious differences, both films have some striking similarities. "Pensione Paura" is an excellent film, but like "Il profumo della signora in nero" is a difficult film to write about.