Crypts (2022) movie review!
Having reviewed Carne by Fabrizio Spurio recently (see review here), I was greatly excited to enter back into his world so soon with his latest, Crypts. I like his style. As I said on the prior review, it feels like you’re watching an ‘80s SOV tape shelf rental, even down to the FX work. It is a very undervalued style which if done correctly, like Grindhouse stuff, can bring back warm memories of years long gone.
Crypts wastes absolutely no time getting into the thick of it. For about three minutes, we have a ritual with cowled figures, a rather tight-lipped lady and a sacrifice made by said lady unto a kneeling man, followed by lengthy carving of flesh done so wonderfully false in appearance. As the beginning credits run, I recognized practically all the names from Carne appear, man this is some John Waters casting going on, familiar faces in each film, brilliant.
We firstly meet Diego, played by Francesco Lagonigro, in his usual natural laid back but slightly unsettling acting format. He’s returned to his home to work certain things out. As he enters, he breezes around, then looks at a grid in the floor momentarily and a bit edgily. He meets with a friend for pizza and discussions involving another friend, Luca, who both are concerned about, then the next day much wandering down streets to fill in a bit of time.
Next up is a visit to Luca, a bearded man who sits stroking a tortoise. As per we gather that Diego is rather concerned for him, Luca is damaged, he’s seen something in the cemetery and warms Diego never to go there because of a monstrous being. Next thing you know, he shoves Diego aside and lumbers off down the stairs. He is told afterwards how Luca was found outside the cemetery unconscious, rambling about certain things. Also, there are many tales of the crypts below, satanic cults and rituals raising beings from Hell, plus much more including Diego’s own father and his family.
Diego begins to investigate, and along with some nice locations, dig into the mystery of his past and what happens in the cemetery…
So, the interesting thing is that Crypts was created as improv. Apparently, there wasn’t a script, only suggestions in which the cast worked and built around. Unfortunately, if you didn’t know and appreciate this, you’d be faced by a long winded slow padded out story which seldom builds to anything in particular until close to the end.
What Fabrio achieves is a visual beauty, capturing the areas, the crypt itself, and he harks back to the golden days of Rollin and Franco, but is it enough to hold the interest of those without the memory or knowledge of such things?
Musically it doesn’t help itself at all. The lingering annoyance constantly throughout (well it breaks off now and then but begins soon after again), that factor tends to drag things along more than intended, so my honest opinion is that Crypts would have worked far better as a shorter film, half the length and coupled with a movie of equal length and a familiar sort of subject matter.
Given the task faced by them, the cast achieve honours in what could be seen as an experiment of sorts. Francesco stands out as expected and sings the opening theme. Nice. Simply put, Fabrio challenged himself and others in a city he did not know to form a workable film. Yeah, he did pretty well with what was available and mid-way the pacing does increase to a jog where he truly works his magic into proceedings.
Crypts is enjoyable if you recognise what you are viewing – a refreshing throwback to the old school Euro horrors which near enough everybody from a certain era either rented or hunted down due to people such as Chas Balun handing out pointers.
Directed by: Fabrizio Spurio
Written by: Fabrizio Spurio, Francesco Lagonigro
Produced by: Fabrizio Spurio
Cinematography by: Francesco Lagonigro
Editing by: Fabrizio Spurio
Music by: Barafoetida
Special Effects by: Fabrizio Spurio
Cast: Francesco Lagonigro, Nadia Ricci, Andrea Pacilli, Sara Lagonigro,
Year: 2022
Country: Italy
Language: Italian (English subs)
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 5min
