Rent Schizoid (1980)

Curiously lifeless. - Schizoid review by NP

‘Schizoid’ has a definite giallo flavour to it; the members of a therapy group provide some of the potential victims, and of course, with Klaus Kinski in the cast, there are certain expectations as to who the darkly-dressed killer is!

Christopher Lloyd also stars, in one of his earliest appearances, as does Marianna Hill, Donna Wilkes and Craig Wasson.

My problem with ‘Schizoid’ is that, despite all these (and more) performances, the pacing is often leaden. There is little flair to the kills, and the bright red blood for which these slasher films are often known, is in very short supply. Kinski, who when given the right role can be electrifying, seems miscast here as Pieter Fales; his entreaties to his daughter Alison, for example, are repetitive and uncharacteristically lifeless.

As a slasher film, this disappoints, but as a giallo it partially succeeds with a fairly satisfying reveal at the end. My score is 6 out of 10.