CAST: Michael York (Robert Dominici), Edwige Fenech (Helene Mar-tell), Donald Pleasence (Inspector Datti), Mapi Galan (Susanna), Fabio Sartor (David), Renato Cortesi (Agent Marchi), Antonella Pnonziani (Gloria Datti). Directed by Ruggero Deodato.
SYNOPSIS: Robert Dominici is a classically trained pianist adored by the critics and female fans alike. Right before one of Robert’s concerts, a doctor is brutally murdered which leads to Inspector Datti (Donald Pleasence) missing the performance with his daughter Gloria, due to being assigned to the case. After speaking to a witness, Datti knows that the killer is in his thirties and begins his search. Soon after, Robert’s girlfriend Susanna is also murdered and Datti arrives to question him, although Datti is suspicious of Robert’s best friend David who was having an affair with Susanna. Following Susanna’s murder, admirer Helene Martell pays a visit to Robert and offers to comfort him. Meanwhile, Datti with no solid leads is shocked when the killer calls his house and brags that he will never be caught and can kill as often as he wishes; he even mentions Datti’s daughter. Feeling unwell and losing his hair, Robert visits a doctor who tells him he has Hutchinsons, a very rare, fatal genetic disease, and Gilbert’s syndrome which will rapidly age him and affects his psyche. Robert, who previously killed Doctor Pesenti before she could fully explain his condition, becomes enraged that he will be cut down in the prime of life. Complicating matters is that Helene calls Robert to let him know she is pregnant with his child. He tries unsuccessfully to kill her to terminate her pregnancy but is scared off. Helene then tells Datti that the attacker was in his 50s. Now obsessed with killing the young and old in frustration over his situation, Robert begins a deadly game of cat and mouse with Datti, taunting him as he continues his murderous spree with the goal of killing Helene and his unborn child.
COMMENTARY: Much like Dario Argento, director Ruggero Deodato is also widely known by fans for his genre films which tend to be more on the gory side with titles like Cannibal Holocaust, House on the Edge of the Park, and Body Count. Deodato’s Phantom of Death (originally titled Un Delitto Poco Commune in Italian which translates into the more appropriate title A Crime Uncommon), is a hit and miss affair. The premise of the rapidly aging killer is an interesting concept and Michael York really sells his character, eliciting sympathy for an otherwise murderous individual. The film also concludes with the killer being stopped in a most unique fashion via a heart attack from old age. Where this film misses includes the rather ridiculous premise of Robert Dominici receiving martial arts training while dressed as a ninja, and when he dons a phantom of the opera type mask while traveling through Venice, an obvious link-up to the film’s US title.
Pleasence’s appearance as Inspector Datti appears at first glance to be yet another role as a police chief, but there is some added depth via his continuing frustration as well as his concern for his daughter Gloria. The look on Pleasence’s face when the killer first mentions Gloria perfectly reflects that of a protective father. Later on in the film when Datti thinks he has safely sent his daughter to Rome to escape, he once again receives a phone call from the killer which truly compounds his fears. Datti reaches his breaking point after one of his officers is murdered in broad daylight and requests a transfer to a distant precinct, but like any good cop, Datti is drawn back in through a simple clue that leads to his big break.