What Have You Done to Solange? movie review

A Massimo Dallamano Film, 1972.
Distributed by American International
Pictures. DVD by Shriek Show,
2002. Directed by Massimo
Dallamano. Starring Fabio Testi,
Karin Baal, Cristina Galbó and
Camille Keaton as "Solange."

If it wasn't for a DVD distributor called "Shriek Show," we probably wouldn't be seeing great flicks like this.
In recent months, gore classics like "Zombie Holocaust (1980)" and sickies like "Beyond the Darkness (1979)" were released thanks to Shriek Show.
I think films like these were often ignored by other DVD production companies, like Anchor Bay Entertainment, because they pushed the envelope on gore and sex.
But some films use these elements to great effect. With that in mind, let's talk about Shriek Show's "What Have You Done To Solange?"
It's a giallo about college girls, sex, abortion and a psycho dressed in black who enjoys impaling the girls with carving knives.
The story is told from the point of view of a teacher at a college for girls. The teacher is played by Fabio Testi, who I remember from Lucio Fulci's "Four of the Apocalypse (1974)."
This teacher is married to a teacher, but he's having an affair with a student. He becomes a suspect when the body count begins and when his student girlfriend is killed, he becomes determined to find the killer.
His investigation leads him to the girl who holds the key to the killer's identity. Her name is "Solange." But she's not talking.
In the end, he learns that the world of teenage girls is more twisted than he thought possible.
The film has the feel of one of Dario Argento's early works, like "Bird of the Crystal Plummage (1970)." It doesn't have the same kind of fantastic murder scenes, but there's more nudity in it.
That's a good thing for a few reasons. It will keep the perverts in the audience interested. But also, this is a film about college girls, sex and consequence. Holding back on the images would water down the impact of the film.
"Solange" has the same composer as "Bird," Ennio Morricone. And he jangles our nerves with a chorus, piano and harpsichord.
One word of warning to horror fans not familiar with giallo films from the early 1970s. The plots can move at a snail's pace. But that doesn't mean they're not interesting.
In "Solange" that slow pace actually works to the film's advantage. By mid point, when Testi's teacher character is baffled by the killings and unable to find any clues, we feel his frustration.
How many more girls will die before the terror is over?
Only "Solange" knows for sure.


		WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE?
		WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE?
		A Massimo Dallamano Film, 1972. Distributed by American International Pictures. DVD by Shriek Show, 2002. Directed by Massimo Dallamano. Starring Fabio Testi, Karin Baal, Cristina Galbó and Camille Keaton as "Solange."
		By Stephen Pytak If it wasn't for a DVD distributor called "Shriek Show," we probably wouldn't be seeing great flicks like this. In recent months, gore classics like "Zombie Holocaust (1980)" and sickies like "Beyond the Darkness (1979)" were released thanks to Shriek Show. I think films like these were often ignored by other DVD production companies, like Anchor Bay Entertainment, because they pushed the envelope on gore and sex. But some films use these elements to great effect. With that in mind, let's talk about Shriek Show's "What Have You Done To Solange?" It's a giallo about college girls, sex, abortion and a psycho dressed in black who enjoys impaling the girls with carving knives. The story is told from the point of view of a teacher at a college for girls. The teacher is played by Fabio Testi, who I remember from Lucio Fulci's "Four of the Apocalypse (1974)." This teacher is married to a teacher, but he's having an affair with a student. He becomes a suspect when the body count begins and when his student girlfriend is killed, he becomes determined to find the killer. His investigation leads him to the girl who holds the key to the killer's identity. Her name is "Solange." But she's not talking. In the end, he learns that the world of teenage girls is more twisted than he thought possible. The film has the feel of one of Dario Argento's early works, like "Bird of the Crystal Plummage (1970)." It doesn't have the same kind of fantastic murder scenes, but there's more nudity in it. That's a good thing for a few reasons. It will keep the perverts in the audience interested. But also, this is a film about college girls, sex and consequence. Holding back on the images would water down the impact of the film. "Solange" has the same composer as "Bird," Ennio Morricone. And he jangles our nerves with a chorus, piano and harpsichord. One word of warning to horror fans not familiar with giallo films from the early 1970s. The plots can move at a snail's pace. But that doesn't mean they're not interesting. In "Solange" that slow pace actually works to the film's advantage. By mid point, when Testi's teacher character is baffled by the killings and unable to find any clues, we feel his frustration. How many more girls will die before the terror is over? Only "Solange" knows for sure.

Copyright 2002 by Stephen Pytak