Puzzle (1974) User Reviews

Intelligent And Compelling Giallo

[Witchfinder-General-666 · 7/10 · 9 October 2008]

Duccio Tessari's "L'Uomo Senza Memoria" (aka. "The Man Without Memory" / "Puzzle") of 1974 is not (yet) a very well-known Giallo, but it sure is a great film worthy of more attention. For the great Giallo-genre, especially in the mid-70s, this film bares very few murders and little bloodshed, but that does in no way lessen its value as a terrific Thriller that no Giallo-buff, or even suspense-fan in general should miss. Especially to those who set the main value on the mystery aspect of a Giallo, this is an essential film. The title "The Man Without Memory" fits the film perfectly, of course, as the central character (superbly played by Luc Merenda) is a man who suffers from amnesia. Yet the aka. title "Puzzle" fits the film just as well, as this is indeed a highly compelling and intelligent puzzle, which is capable of stunning the viewer from the first minute.

Edward (Luc Merenda) has lost his memory. Without knowing why, he is being followed by people, who insist that he owes them something. He finds out that he has a wife in Italy, who turns out to be the beautiful Sara (Senta Berger). This is only the first step into his mysterious past, however... I do not want to give away too much about the plot, since this is an ingenious puzzle that all fellow Giallo-buffs should experience entirely for themselves. The film is excellent and stunning in its mystery and suspense, beautifully shot and accompanied by a great score. The performances are superb. Luc Merenda, star of Poliziotteschi such as "The Violent Professionals", was the perfect choice to play the lead here, and beautiful Senta Berger is sexy, lovable and great in the role of Sara. The cast furthermore includes the wonderful Anita Strindberg, who was part of many memorable Gialli, such as "The Scorpion's Tail", "Lizard In A Woman's Skin", "Who Saw Her Die", and, most notably in Sergio Martino's Poe-inspired masterpiece "Your Vice Is A Locked Room And Only I Have The Key", which is a strong contender for my personal all-time favorite Giallo. Strindberg only has a small role here, but she is doubtlessly great in it. The cast furthermore includes Umberto Orsini ("Violent City") and Genre-regular Bruno Corazzari ("The Strange Vice Of Mrs Wardh", "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids",...). "The Man Without Memory" is a very intelligent and enthralling film that deserves more attention, and that no Giallo-lover can afford to miss! Highly recommended!

"Puzzle" is a solid entry into the Giallo canon

[Schwenkstar · 7/10 · 16 December 2007]

This little seen thriller is a solid entry into the giallo canon that was directed by Duccio Tessari (who did the equally good "The Bloodstained Butterfly") and written by Ernesto Gastaldi (who is the iconic writer of the giallo genre).

The narrative features an interesting narrative hook (a man can't remember who he is and now thugs are after him for something he hid... and he doesn't know where it is, let alone *what* it is). Unfortunately, the film doesn't utilize its intriguing plot premise to the fullest, with essentially the amnesia element pushed aside for most of the movie, and instead relies on more conventional means of telling the story. Fortunately, the writer manages to more successfully integrate the amnesia element towards the end which allow for a few plot twists, but not to the degree it could have achieved.

The direction is fine but nothing exemplary, and the performances are all solid but not particularly memorable. In other words, everything is competent and efficient, but it doesn't really standout from the majority of thrillers that saturate our viewing repertoire.

However, it certainly is an above average example of the giallo genre, with narrative that is better than most gialli and even has a terrific climax, but it's also certainly not a classic film in any respect.

Highly recommended for giallo fans, a solid recommendation to thriller aficionados, but others may wish to simply view a better example of the genre, such as "Deep Red".

Also, the film references Stanley Donan's film "Charade", see if you can catch it...

Jackie Chan's Who Am I? - Giallo version

[Bezenby · 6/10 · 15 March 2018]

Luc Merenda plays Pete, a guy in London who has no memory following a car crash eight months previous. In fact, although his driving license says Peter, he might actually be called Ted. At least that's what the guy who tries to kill him calls him, before he himself is killed by a mystery assassin. It's around this time that Pete/Ted receives a telegram telling him to get ass over to Italy, where his wife is waiting for him. Problem being is that Ted didn't even know he was married.

Still, he heads over there anyway, and luckily enough a mysterious guy with a runny nose points out his wife at the train station. Now Sara's got problems of her own, seeing as she'd written off Ted's disappearance and now gotten a job as a swimming instructor at a local school, hooking up with new guy Reinhart (Orisini). Sara actually finds this new Ted a lot more pleasing than the old one, and starts falling in love with him all over, much to the dismay of Reinhart.

Runny nose guy turns out to be George, a very aggressive man who claims that Ted owes him something, and that he needs it before 'they' kill him, and if doesn't get it, he's going to kill Ted, but Sara first. Ted around this time also starts getting flashes of the past, and that turns out not to be good news, as his first recalled memory is seeing a man getting his throat cut by a mystery figure. To make things worse, George also starts on Sara, but when someone slashes her dog's throat, he's adamant that it wasn't him.

The first thing you'll notice is the complete absence of the black gloved killer in this giallo, but all the mysterious plot elements are there for the viewer to figure out. Is Ted suffering from amnesia or is he pretending? If he's not pretending, how can he trust anything that's going on, or anyone he meets? And what exactly is it that George is after?

This film, while not action packed, has a lot going for it. Starting with the great cinematography and use of colour (as usual for a giallo), the predominant colour here is blue, which appears in many shades and forms. Better still is Bruno Corazzari having a much larger role than usual. He always plays sinister types, but here he's given the space to branch out and his presence hangs over much of the film. His best scene is when he corners Sara, who is recovering with a broken leg, and just stands throwing lit match over lit match at her. Not life threatening, but a tense scene indeed. Umberto Orisini also has a bigger role than usual and has a very natural acting style I notice, that serves him well throughout the film. Luc Merenda of course is all eyebrows and glowering, and still comes across like a really thin Arnie.

There's a lack of blood and gore in this one that pays off in a later scene involving a chainsaw. One thing I did notice was that when one character falls to their death, the dummy's head falls off. Strange gaff from Tessari, whose composition and execution are usually flawless.

WAIT UNTIL DARK meets THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE ... sort of

[Richard_Harland_Smith · 15 February 2000]

In London, an amnesiac is abducted and beaten by a stranger who calls him a "dirty son of a double-crosser." When a sniper's bullet kills his attacker, the amnesiac flees the country with airline tickets provided by a wife he never knew he had. Arriving in Portofino, the amnesiac is called a "dirty rotten bastard" by his wife, and threatened by another stranger to return a million dollars in uncut heroin - or die. Duccio Tessari's stylish L'UOMO SENZA MEMORIA/MAN WITHOUT A MEMORY, aka PUZZLE (1974), tears a page or two from Terence Young's WAIT UNTIL DARK, substituting for sightlessness a memory loss that seems self-willed. The more the amnesiac (Luc Merenda) learns of his past, the more he wants to forget (Hal Hartley's indie AMATEUR mined similar territory twenty years later). Tessari (A PISTOL FOR RINGO, DEATH OCCURRED LAST NIGHT, THE BLOODSTAINED BUTTERFLY) and scenarist Ernesto Gastaldi (WEREWOLF IN A GIRL'S DORMITORY, TORSO) make the principal characters surprisingly likeable for giallo pawns and the derivativeness of the narrative is offset by a series of nicely staged setpieces (a razor slashing predates Angie Dickinson's postcoital comeuppance in Brian DePalma's DRESSED TO KILL by more than half a decade). Senta Berger proves an above average heroine, and even gets to brandish a chainsaw in the film's tense conclusion. This film won't convert any new fans to the giallo genre, but should provide an invigorating diversion to those familiar with the rules of the game.

WHO AM I?

[kirbylee70-599-526179 · 6/10 · 23 November 2021]

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.

Amnesia-themed giallo from scriptwriter Ernesto Gastaldi

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 21 October 2016]

An obscure and rather subtle Italian giallo which forsakes a string of bloody murders in favour of building up a gentle atmosphere of suspense. This isn't one of the finest films of the genre but neither is it one of the worst, instead a matter-of-fact movie that sits amiably in the middle and is worth at least one watch for genre fans. The slow pacing of the first half is a little off-putting at first but the movie soon picks up to offer plenty of menace and some fine action at the finale. The central theme of the film is that old chestnut of the participant having lost his memory and having to gradually piece together the events leading up to his current situation but the interest is retained through some interesting, fleshed-out characters who make the whole thing worthwhile.

The small cast also deliver accomplished performances adding to the viewer's enjoyment. First up is Tommy Lee Jones lookalike Luc Merenda playing the amnesic victim. Although the character is a romantic led, Merenda still keeps something sinister and hidden about him, a man with a dark past who may not be entirely trustworthy. This ambiguity surrounding his character makes for an interesting part and Merenda pulls it off performance-wise. Rather more straightforward is Senta Berger's turn as the heroine, a damsel in distress who is repeatedly menaced by human scum George (a wicked part played superbly by Bruno Corazzari) who in one memorable scene throws lighted matches at her. Finally we have Umberto Orsini as a doctor and family friend who may or may not be hiding some dark secrets of his own; Orsini is also very good in the part. The only other notable cast member is a young boy who is actually rather endearing.

Don't come here looking for a blood and guts movie because in terms of bloodshed it's fairly restrained. In fact the only gore for the most part is the brutal murder of a lovably cute dog and a guy having his throat slit slowly (ouch) in a flashback. However the finale - in which a chainsaw figures predominantly - certainly rewards the viewer's patience, a powerful battle between good and evil which ends with a fine unpleasant death for the villain and an excellent highlight to top off the film. PUZZLE is a movie with a fine build-up of mystery and suspense, highlighted by a realistic script from Ernesto Gastaldi and some acceptable camera-work to keep things fluid and interesting.

decent Giallo but.....

[Prof-Hieronymos-Grost · 6/10 · 5 July 2007]

Puzzle aka Man without memory aka Uomo senza memoria, L' (1974)

Eight months after a near fatal car crash in London, Peter Smith (Luc Merenda)is still unsure of his real id, the only clue he has is the car was rented to someone by that name, the name he now goes under. His doctors say that through his sub conscious he is deliberately hiding his past, out of fear. He is introduced to a man, Philip, who claims his real name is in fact Ted and who claims that he, Ted/Peter is a conman, Ted/Peter can neither corroborate or deny the accusations, one thing for sure though is the man has a grudge against him, they go to Peter's apartment to discuss matters but Philip is shot and killed by an assailant with a rifle on the building opposite, Peter then receives a telegram which claims to be from his wife who lives in Portofino, Italy, and after hiding the body flees the scene.

Sara his wife (Senta Berger) has put her missing husband behind her now and has moved on to a new friendship with Daniel Reinhardt (Umberto Orsini), the local swimming coach , she has also befriended one of his pupils, Luca, a keen swimmer and amateur photographer who has a bit of a crush on her. On the eve of her husband's arrival she is attacked and drugged in her own home by an unseen assailant but the motive is unclear as nothing was taken, the police are baffled. On his arrival Peter is unable to recognize his estranged wife and is prompted by a red haired stranger as to her identity. Sara regails their past to an inquisitive Ted, she tells of their whirlwind relationship, and the fact that she never really knew what business he was in, just that it was secret work that may have involved antiques. "Who am I ? He pleads…"a dirty rotten bastard " she replies and every one seems to agree!. Ted/Peter is shocked to find out that Sara had not in fact sent the telegram, Ted tells her they may be in danger and that the killer has arranged it that way, but what is his motive? Puzzle shies away from the usual clichés of the genre and in so doing it turns out to be a rather slow and plodding affair, who the killer is? is always an important part of any Giallo and there are many suspects in the film, is Sara somehow involved?..is she really his wife…is he really Ted?…could it be the red haired stranger who introduces himself as George (Bruno Corazzari) who claims to have saved his life, could it be Daniel, the friend of Sara or perhaps the mysterious blonde Mary (an underused Anita Strindberg) or could it even be the helpful policeman?…well to anyone with a knowledge of Gialli, it will be pretty obvious. Puzzle isn't bad in any way, it just doesn't excel or excite, the way a Giallo should, the second half of the film is better when the pace builds but if feels more like your regular crime film as opposed to that of a Giallo, the performances of the three main leads are all good but there is a distinct lack of great set pieces but the best kill is saved until the end when the real killer is revealed. The film does however seem to foreshadow scenes from both TCM(1974) and The Shining(1980). Not essential Giallo by any means but an enjoyable way to pass 90 mins.

Well-made, but not exceptional, crime thriller

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 11 August 2011]

"Puzzle" poses a number of questions, the most burning of which may be: is it possible to forget that you are married to Senta Berger, EVEN IF you are suffering from amnesia? Senta has put on some muscle since her earlier years and, IMO, she looks better here than she ever has before - she is breathtaking in some shots. More of a crime thriller than a giallo (which is what the DVD cover advertises it as), "Puzzle" manages to stay at least moderately interesting most of the way, until its suspenseful and quite bloody climax. The Italian locations (Portofino) help a lot. It's not a "must-see" picture, but for Senta Berger fans especially it is worth a look. **1/2 out of 4.

Fantastic Italian giallo with lovely Anita Strindberg.

[HumanoidOfFlesh · 8/10 · 14 August 2012]

Luc Merenda suffers from amnesia.His memory is fragmented but he seems to remember that he was once married to Senta Berger.When he returns to her his past partners in crime appear and want to get the money he has hidden somewhere...Superbly shot Italian giallo with violent and exciting finale which includes chainsaw vs chair duel.Luc Merenda is a pretty good lead and Senta Berger makes for a beautiful heroine and there's also a smaller role for genre regular Anita Strindberg.There are several suspenseful moments in "Puzzle",so fans of Italian gialli won't be disappointed.The film lack sleaze and high body-count,but overlook that and you have one of the best Italian giallos of early 70's with lovingly breezy Gianni Ferrio score.8 giallos out of 10.

Dull middle, but good beginning & end

[rdoyle29 · 7/10 · 1 September 2022]

Luc Merenda has amnesia. He woke up from an auto accident about a year ago and has been unable to remember anything about his life. He had identification on him, but nothing can be found about his past. His psychiatrist introduces him to someone who claims to know him, but he immediately attacks Merenda demanding to know where the stuff is. Someone shoots and kills him through Merenda's window.

Merenda learned a bit from the guy. He learned that his name is actually "Ted Walden" and that he has a wife waiting for him in Italy. When someone sends him info about his wife and a train ticket, he goes to see her.

His wife is Senta Berger. She's assumed for the last year that Merenda ran out on her. She learns of his imminent arrival, but someone breaks into her house ... but doesn't take anything. When Merenda arrives, he's confronted by Bruno Corazzari who claims they are friends and partners in a shady deal that was to net them $1 million. The problem is that Merenda has the goods, and if he doesn't start remembering, the big boss will come after all of them.

After this fairly compelling setup, this film settles into a long rut before livening up for a delightfully absurd climax involving Chekhov's chainsaw and a villain undone when the rug is literally pulled out from under him. I think anyone watching this will know who the main villain is long before the film bothers to tell you, but it's a mildly entertaining diversion. It's pretty tame for a giallo, especially one this late in the cycle, but Duccio Tessari delivers this one just fine.

Anita Strindberg has a tiny, but fairly significant role.

Incomprehensible movie

[stefanozucchelli · 5/10 · 5 March 2022]

The title explains exactly how I felt at the end of the movie. A seamless puzzle that is missing several pieces. There is something about the plot that seemed to escape my understanding and I finally gave up.

Memorable "Man Without a Memory"

[rundbauchdodo · 8/10 · 4 November 2001]

This fine Giallo tells an unusual story in an unusual way, and even though not much happens in the first half of the film, director Tessari manages to grip the viewer's attention from the beginning through stylish directing and really thrilling and creepy moments. In the second half, as the plot thickens and the parts of the puzzle begin to fit into a whole (i.e. as the main character starts to remember more and more of his past), there are also some fairly violent scenes, e.g. as a villain falls over a cliff or beautiful female lead Senta Berger swings a chainsaw. But, most importantly, even though the plot is a quite complicated net of strings that has to be lead together to the climax, the story remains plausible until the end, which isn't always the case in films of this genre.

Apart from the convincing performance by Berger, Luc Merenda is also well casted in the title role, as is Umberto Orsini in the main supporting role. Look out for Giallo regular Anita Strindberg in a small but crucial role. The lush sound track is also very cool and adds to the viewing pleasure. The only shame is that, as with too many other Italian films of the 1970s, this memorable Giallo is quite rare and hard to get. Rating: 8 out of 10.

Fun!

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 12 September 2021]

Released in Italy as L'uomo senza memoria (The Man Without a Memory), Puzzle was directed by Duccio Tessari, who like many Italy exploitation directors had a career that went from genre to genre: peplum (he wrote several, including Goliath and the Vampires and Mario Bava's Hercules in the Haunted World), westerns (he wrote and directed A Pistol for Ringo and The Return of Ringo), Eurospy (Kiss Kiss...Bang Bang), blacksploitation (Three Tough Guys) and the giallo with The Bloodstained Butterfly and this film.

Eight months ago, Ted Walden woke up from a car crash and has been trying to piece together his past. And when he meets anyone from it, they often pull guns on him and then get killed or they're his ex-wife who has moved on after his death. Well, if he can't find the million dollars he stole from the syndicate, he's going to die again and his ex-wife will as well.

I kind of love that Ted slowly learns what a horrible person he used to be and how he can use it to remain the better person he has become. Also, for an amnesiac, he has not forgotten how to dress well.

Less of a murder-based giallo and more of a discovery of identity - with a crowd-pleasing ending that was made the very same year as a certain film from Texas - this one surprised me.

A unique Italian giallo picture

[kevin_robbins · 7/10 · 10 June 2023]

Puzzle (1974) is an Italian giallo picture that I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a man who wakes up from a coma and doesn't remember his identity. When the man meets his wife he instantly falls back in love with her and they try to rekindle the old flame. Meanwhile, some men who doesn't believe him that he doesn't remember his past try to remind him of some unsavory acts and murders that he should remember and wish to knock his memory back into him one way or another.

This movie is directed by Duccio Tessari (The Bloodstained Butterfly) and stars Senta Berger (The Ambushers), Luc Merenda (Hostel: Part II), Umberto Orsini (The Damned), Anita Strindberg (Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key) and Bruno Corazzari (Murder to the Tune of the Seven Black Notes).

This movie had some really entertaining elements. There's a mystery over the entire film as you try to figure out who is telling the truth that isn't revealed until the very end. The circumstances are well set up and felt authentic and the acting is solid. The "who done it elements" were well done. The little kid in this was a wild character and his dialogue kept me cracking up the entire film. The backdrops of the Italian countryside is gorgeous. The ending razor blade vs chainsaw sequence was a lot of fun but could have been better and the ending reveal was good (not great).

Overall, this is a unique Italian giallo picture that I would score a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing once.

Good stuff

[dopefishie · 7/10 · 10 April 2023]

Pretty standard, straight forward giallo that's executed better-than-average by everyone involved. Duccio Tessari is an incredible director, and he does a good job here. The soundtrack is quite good and hits all the classic giallo notes.

Senta Berger is stunning as the lead. I could not take my eyes off of her. She really helps carry the film. Luc Merenda was good - he was hard to like and hard to hate. Anita Strindberg had a very small and forgettable role so don't watch this film on her account.

The weakest part was honestly the story. You can see the twist coming from miles away. Despite that, the rest of the film is well-made and quite enjoyable. You should definitely check it out if you're a fan of suspense/thrillers.

"This is Whiskey and he's my best friend"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 6/10 · 30 April 2022]

Not quite a giallo but an involving mystery story concerned with loss of memory and a missing consignment leading to murder and mayhem. The film takes its time to get going, the second half being more exciting than the first but it's worth sticking with to the finale. The Italian locations are attractively filmed and Gianni Ferrio provides a thrilling musical score. The story is helped by good acting; Luc Merenda as the ambiguous Ted, Bruno Corazzari as the thuggish George and of course the beauteous Senta Berger as the waiting and wondering wife. The latter is worth the price of admission, as it were. It's a shame what happened to the little dog though.

love this giallo

[gorytus-20672 · 10/10 · 15 April 2021]

Apr 2021

Puzzle (the original title being L'uomo senza memoria.. which translates to the man without memory.. the man being Luc Meranda)

This is a great example of the giallo, the locations are great the actors are great, and its a really intriguing plot.

Its a fun film and the child actor is great as are Senta Berger and all the main actors.

10 out of 10.

Absolutely thrilling...

[f.gimenez · 10/10 · 18 December 2000]

I was just amazed when I finished watching this Italian thriller. Inspired in quite a few American and European movies of this kind, it gets you intrigued from the start till the end. Strange events, mysterious characters, (including the main one who is an amnesic man who doesn´t know who he is or why someone is trying to kill him), the right rhythm and really thrilling moments make this movie one of the best Italian thrillers I´ve ever seen. Absolutely recommended.

A GREAT example of the genre!

[The_Void · 8/10 · 7 November 2006]

This Giallo is practically unknown, and that's a real shame as Puzzle is an outstanding example of the genre. Director Duccio Tessari made the excellent Giallo 'The Bloodstained Butterfly' three years before this film, and the two share the same keenness to buck as many plotting trends as possible; as while this film firmly fits into the Giallo in terms of style, the plot takes the focus away from common Giallo elements such as sex and murder and puts it more on the characters and an intriguing plot involving amnesia. The film is also known as 'Man Without Memory', and that is down the fact that the central character, Peter, has lost his memory. He's being treated in a hospital, and it's not long before a mysterious stranger turns up and accuses Peter of double-crossing him. We later learn that peter is really Edward, and he's married to the beautiful Sara. He finds out about his wife and travels to Italy in order to meet up with her; although she has chiselled out a new life for herself which involves a male friend named Reinhardt, and a young kid with a crush on her...

Director Duccio Tessari uses the first half of the film to get the plot basics in place, and as a consequence it's not always exciting. However, the director manages to hold the audience's attention long enough for the film to begin revealing itself in the second act. Puzzle was scripted by Giallo luminary Ernesto Gastaldi, and the film represents one of his best works, which says a lot considering the other films he penned. While the plot does take a while to get going, once it does the film becomes a real thrill ride, and this both offsets the sombre tone of the first half and is hugely entertaining. The main influence would appear to be the American classic 'Wait Until Dark', although the film doesn't take too much from the Audrey Hepburn film. The acting is above average, with Senta Berger, Luc Merenda and Umberto Orsini delivering fine performances in the central roles. The ending is superb and ensures that the film ends on a high, as a chainsaw revs into action and the film makes up for its lack of bloodshed. Overall, I really hope that Puzzle gets a wide release soon as this is a film that really deserves to be more seen!

It's quite the Puzzle, all right!

[Coventry · 9/10 · 20 March 2008]

Duccio Tessari really ought to be applauded for this truly proficient but sadly still neglected Giallo-achievement! I sincerely hope this film receives a properly legit and worldwide DVD-release soon, because avid fans of the genre are guaranteed to get a kick out of it. "Puzzle" is already available in France (or at least in the French speaking part of Belgium; where I got it), even though the transfer to disc is fairly rudimentary and inconspicuous. "Puzzle" embraces all the regular elements Giallo-devotees anticipate, like convoluted plot twists and a couple of bloody murders, but truly remarkable is the high number of nail-biting suspense moments. Tessari invokes a nearly indescribably nerve-racking ambiance from the start of the film and gradually builds up the edginess towards a masterful climax. Even some of the widely acclaimed directors in the genre, like Dario Argento or Sergio Martino, never managed to include this much genuine tension in their masterpieces. And yet, the basic plot outline of this film isn't *that* original or revolutionary. In fact, the plot largely exists of typical and even clichéd themes, like a protagonist suffering from amnesia, the involvement of beautiful women and a large scaled drug-smuggling crime network, but somehow Ernesto Gastaldi's screenplay continuously feels refreshing. The fairly complex structure and unexpected plot twists also always stay several steps ahead of you ... indeed, like a hard-to-solve puzzle. I wouldn't even think of elaborating on the plot too much, as it's really convoluted and twisted and I don't want to be the one spoiling it for you. I can briefly mention that the lead character, Edward, has been living in England for at least the past eight months and, as the result an accident, he remembers absolutely nothing of his past. He's lured to Italy, where he apparently also has a gorgeous wife, by a suspicious individual who repeatedly forces Edward to remember stuff. Who is this man and why does he so desperately want to bring Edward's memory back? What vicious affair was Edward involved in to begin with and is his lovely wife Sara honestly as innocent as she pretends? "Puzzle" is a non-stop challenging and solidly scripted Giallo highlight, and even if the plot contains some holes or improbabilities (which it probably did), I personally was too excited and entertained to make notice of them. The film surprisingly enough doesn't feature any sexual footage, but the soundtrack is wonderful and particularly the exterior filming locations are stunning. "Puzzle" also isn't as gory as most contemporary Giallo, but nonetheless there are some noteworthy peaks of brutality (the slaughter of a harmless little dog) and massive bloodshed (chainsaw-finale, anyone?). Supreme acting performances as well, with Poliziottesco-regular Luc Merenda ("The Violent Professionals", "The Kidnap Syndicate"), beauty queen Senta Berger, and a brief but important appearance by Giallo princess Anita Strindberg ("A Lizard in a Woman's Skin", "Who Saw Her Die?") … Oh, and Duilio Cruciani is probably my pick for the LEAST annoying child-actor ever. He's actually quite good and convincing. Highly recommended!

there is some violence

[christopher-underwood · 8/10 · 11 May 2023]

It's really good, such an unusual giallo and it is really odd that we see the great actor Senta Berger that I have hardly seen her at all although she was in Peckinpah's, Cross of Iron (1977). The central man is Luc Merenda I only saw him the other day in, A Man Called Magnum (1977) and he was certainly used in poliziottescho. There is not as much sex although there is some violence especially towards the end with lighted matches thrown at the lovely lady but she gets a go with a chainsaw, although it is rather unusual at the end. At the start we hear of Merenda and his lack of memory shortly in London but all the action is later in the wonderful town of Portofino. Great cinematography and splendid action of Duccio Tessari that keeps the story going on even if it gets a little confused although we don't need to worry about the nasty man who has a runny nose.

Surreal and a rather fresh take on the Giallo genre

[acidburn-10 · 8/10 · 17 January 2023]

'Puzzle' is an intriguing and mesmerizing Italian Giallo thriller flick with an engaging plot, stylish production and a well- crafted mystery that keeps you guessing throughout. The movie has enough of the genre elements within' its storytelling, although some fans may be disappointed by the lack of sleaze and over the top death scenes, but personally I enjoyed it for what it is a well-made suspenseful thriller.

The plot follows Ted (Luc Merenda) who suffers from amnesia after a car accident 8 months previous. But when someone from his past tries to murder him, he survives the attack and gets a note informing him that he has a wife in Italy named Sara (Senta Berger) and travels there to meet her in order to regain his memory, but when he arrives danger is lurking around every corner.

The movie is a well-round Giallo mystery that doesn't rely heavily on extreme violence and flashy visuals to tell a compelling story and instead focuses on interesting characters and the mystery of Ted's past to draw you into its twisted world as things start to slowly throughout and heads towards a thrilling climax which makes everything worth it in the end. The direction and visual flair by Duccio Tessari are top notch as he provides the movie with a hazy dreamlike quality and an intense slow building pace.

The acting and characters in this flick are incredibly strong with Luc Merenda providing an outstanding performance in a challenging role as Ted following his struggle with remembering his past. Senta Berger provides an enthralling performance as Sara, Umberto Orsini also provides a strong and interesting character as the movie progresses, Bruno Corazzari adds enough menace and creepiness to his role and Anita Strindberg pops up in a small but pivotal role and its always a pleasure to see her in just about anything.

Overall 'Puzzle' is an entertaining flick with a surreal narrative and a rather fresh take on the genre, especially by the mid 70's standards.

Italian Giallo Thriller with Luc MERENDA and Senta BERGER

[ZeddaZogenau · 10/10 · 9 December 2023]

A woman and her Stihl - Senta Berger, the chainsaw and an exceptional giallo with Luc Merenda

Anyone who only knows Senta Berger, who will only be 80 years young in 2021, from her television roles on German television, has missed something crucial. After the West German film producer Artur Brauner and his CCC-Film didn't know what to do with her, Senta Berger went first to Hollywood and then to Cinecitta in 1965 to make real films.

In the present film by Duccio Tessari (1926-1994), who is best known as the inventor of the western hero Ringo with Giuliano Gemma, she plays Sara Grimaldi, a swimming instructor in Portofino who, after a long absence, is living with her husband Ted (Luc Merenda, * 1943). He has lost his memory in London, is confronted with a bizarre murder and now wants to put the "puzzle" (the film's title in the USA) parts of his life back in order. Ted was probably involved in some pretty dark dealings, and Sara also reacts rather cautiously to him. She has long since found a new admirer in Daniel (Umberto Orsini), her teacher colleague at the swimming pool. When Ted meets George (Bruno Corazzari), a former business acquaintance, things become increasingly mysterious. There are some twists and shock effects that are really quite something. The beautiful Mary Caine (Anita Strindberg) also plays a special role. As Sara, Senta Berger is spared nothing. It's good that a woman always has a Stihl in the house...;-)

Of course the story is predictable, Luc Merenda is not an unlikely Oscar winner (but he can make a striking face), but as a giallo with exquisitely beautiful images and sought-after shock effects, the film definitely works. Good entertainment guaranteed!

The first victim to be seen in London is the South Tyrolean Manfred Freyberger (1930-1980), who was often cast in supporting roles in Cinecitta. Tom Felleghy, born in Budapest in 1921, also appeared as Dr. Archibald Wildgate there.

The Giallo horror film was produced by Luciano Martino (1933-2013), who was married to the Giallo diva Edwige Fenech from 1971 to 1979.