This is a poorly executed (pun intended) movie, period. Though I had no prior knowledge of the film's plot, I figured it out less than half-way through the movie. A coveted letter-opener, a beloved slasher novel repeatedly held to her chest, and every character she's met is still alive and being interrogated; it wasn't difficult to realize the plot.
I feel it's important when watching a film to develop some sort of attachment to the characters, it's what promotes interest in the film's outcome.
Elizabeth Taylor's character is bland at best with a side-effect of exhibiting some kooky behavior around similarly kooky characters, so her behavior doesn't necessarily stand out from the crowd. Ultimately, we're left as we began--knowing nothing about her character. What motivates her?
If she wants to die, than why doesn't she just kill herself? Why does she need to travel to Rome to seek a murderer? Why force a guy to kill her, who's begging not to kill her? Does she want him to get caught and spend the rest of his life in prison for a reason? What's their mystical connection all about? And why is every other guy she meets the stereotypical caricature of a perverse, horny creep? I could go on...
There are far more questions than answers at the end of this film, but you don't really care about the answers. Instead, the film ends with you coming to the realization that you've just wasted roughly 2 hours of your life. If the film had been entertaining or artistically provoking, perhaps it's inadequacies in story-telling could be forgiven. There aren't even any shots of Italy's beautiful scenery to offer this film a saving grace. It's just pure crap.
I feel it's important when watching a film to develop some sort of attachment to the characters, it's what promotes interest in the film's outcome.
Elizabeth Taylor's character is bland at best with a side-effect of exhibiting some kooky behavior around similarly kooky characters, so her behavior doesn't necessarily stand out from the crowd. Ultimately, we're left as we began--knowing nothing about her character. What motivates her?
If she wants to die, than why doesn't she just kill herself? Why does she need to travel to Rome to seek a murderer? Why force a guy to kill her, who's begging not to kill her? Does she want him to get caught and spend the rest of his life in prison for a reason? What's their mystical connection all about? And why is every other guy she meets the stereotypical caricature of a perverse, horny creep? I could go on...
There are far more questions than answers at the end of this film, but you don't really care about the answers. Instead, the film ends with you coming to the realization that you've just wasted roughly 2 hours of your life. If the film had been entertaining or artistically provoking, perhaps it's inadequacies in story-telling could be forgiven. There aren't even any shots of Italy's beautiful scenery to offer this film a saving grace. It's just pure crap.