The giallo film was a mainstay of Italian cinema for years. A combination of Hitchcockian mystery combined with the blood spattered murder sequences in horror films, the genre created careers for many, most famously Dario Argento. But almost all of the Italian directors of the 60s and 70s made an attempt at the genre.
PUZZLE is directed by Duccio Tessari. Tessari worked on numerous Italian films in large and small roles behind the scenes. As a writer he worked on numerous Hercules movies, had an uncredited role in A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and more. As a director he made THE BLOODSTAINED BUTTERFLY, THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT and several Ringo westerns which he also wrote. PUZZLE gave him a chance to play again in the giallo genre.
The story opens with a man waking in London suffering from amnesia after a car accident. He believes his name is Peter (Luc Merenda) but after an attempt on his life and a strange series of events he discovers his real name is Ted and he has a wife named Sara (Senta Berger). Sara is waiting for him in the Italian resort town of Portofino and Ted heads there to meet her.
Glimpses of his past life keep popping up in Ted’s mind, a murder involving a man’s throat being cut. But was it Ted who committed this murder or was he simply witness to it? Ted is almost certain that he was a bad guy in his past life but Sara stands by him as they follow any and all clues into his past life.
As they attempt to sift through the pieces of the puzzle that was Ted’s life, a strange figure follows him around. He eventually tells him that they were part of a heist and he expects to get his share of the money. The problem is Ted has no clue where it is or what happened but the stranger doesn’t believe him.
In addition to this stranger there is someone else following Ted and Sara, someone with a more sinister intent. Just who this person is and what he will do to either of the couple adds to the suspense of the film. Will Ted recover his identity? And just who was he anyway?
The movie offers a straightforward narrative that gives us the story through the eyes of both main characters. There is Ted trying to remember what he can’t and Sara, the new bride trying to discover just who it was she married. As they move forward they trust one another in a world where no one can be trusted.
The movie offers solid entertainment and has performances that are standard but not outstanding. But the story itself doesn’t demand the greatest acting and that’s what the movie is all about. If you’ve never been exposed to the giallo genre this wouldn’t be a bad place to start. It’s an entertaining thriller that will keep you guessing until the end.
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