Hatchet For The Honeymoon (1970) ***1/2

Light on gore, but heavy on melodrama and mood, Mario Bava's Hatchet For The Honeymoon (1970) (one of the best titles for a film) features plenty of striking cinematography, gorgeous ladies, and an unsettling, psychedelic score (complete with jarring fuzz guitar stings). John Philip Law-lookalike Stephen Forsyth does a commendable job as a foppish Norman Bates stand-in and German beauty Dagmar Lassander—though nowhere near as memorable here as in the previous year's The Laughing Woman (aka Femina Ridens) (review)—is always a welcome addition. Though it's a bit slow-moving at times, HFTH is a pulpy, artily-shot giallo and very enjoyable.

Recommended for fans of Psycho (1960), Blood And Black Lace (1964) (review), and American Psycho (2000) (review).

Mario Bava Feature Films Ranked

Giallo Feature Films Ranked