4K Ultra HD Review – The House with Laughing Windows (1976)

      The House with Laughing Windows, 1976.

      Directed by Pupi Avati.

      Starring Lino Capolicchio, Francesca Marciano, Gianni Cavina, Bob Tonelli, and Giulio Pizzirani.

      SYNOPSIS:

      An art restorer becomes entangled in a murder mystery when he learns that the late artist whose work he is restoring employed some unconventional creative techniques. After entering the realm of 4K UHD with their impressive release of Dario Argento’s Four Flies on Grey Velvet earlier this year—since it's fitting to begin adopting new visual technologies with an Argento film—Shameless Films has once again ventured into the HDR territory with The House with Laughing Windows, a title last released by the label on DVD in 2012.

      This is a remarkable choice for a UHD release; the film is not only an engaging murder mystery that fits within the giallo genre—albeit one that transcends the typical connotations of that term—but it also offers a visual spectacle, incorporating elements of folk horror due to its rural setting and effectively conveying the dread and anxiety of a community trapped in a cycle of violence.

      Stefano (Lino Capolicchio), the art restorer, is tasked with restoring a fresco of Saint Sebastian, depicted with knives embedded in his body, on the interior wall of a church. The artist, Buono Legnani, is somewhat of a local legend known for his madness and involvement in several murders alongside his two sisters before his own demise. As a result, Stefano faces significant hostility from the townspeople regarding the painting, particularly from the church's priest, who seems quite displeased with it.

      It is revealed that Legnani had a peculiar habit of painting people as they were dying—hence the murders—leading to strange occurrences within the island community as Stefano uncovers more disturbing details of the mural. He realizes that violence begets violence, and life can mirror art just as art can reflect life.

      Structurally and thematically, The House with Laughing Windows bears more resemblance to The Wicker Man than to Deep Red or All the Colors of the Dark. It is an eerie, contemplative film that takes its time revealing its secrets, developing the mystery without relying on the overt bloodshed and sensuality that became common in giallo films of the time. This is not to imply that there isn’t any, as there is indeed a passionate romance between Stefano and local teacher Francesca (Francesca Marciano) that plays a crucial role in the narrative. However, director Pupi Avati opts against sensationalism, choosing instead to rely on the natural chemistry between the actors to convey their relationship, while keeping the gore to a minimum, using it sparingly so its impact is more startling rather than commonplace.

      Without gratuitous nudity or excessive gore, The House with Laughing Windows captivates by featuring an antagonist who only appears in flashbacks or on a tape recorder, with a backstory that unfolds simultaneously with Stefano’s discoveries. Each of the antagonist's actions reveals more about his character, but unlike Sergeant Howie in The Wicker Man, Stefano is not a deeply religious person, and his presence does not disturb the locals; on the contrary, they take to him quickly, which should have raised some red flags for him, but he is simply a well-meaning individual focused on his work.

      The film looked impressive on DVD, with the beautiful Italian countryside appearing lush and inviting, but the 4K UHD upgrade elevates the visuals even further. Featuring new color grading from a 4K-restored negative, the film is visually stunning, particularly the outdoor scenes where the greenery of the fields and the brightness of the skies are almost lifelike. The detail level is exceptionally high, especially in the church and the dilapidated buildings that Stefano encounters, and the grain is well-balanced throughout, maintaining a bitrate around 85-100 Mbps for most of the runtime.

      With deeper themes of isolation and an undertone of fascism—illustrated by a local's remark about the last tourists being “German pigs in 1940”—The House with Laughing Windows stands out in the Italian giallo genre as it lacks a black-gloved killer or explicit nudity. With so many layers to explore, it might take multiple viewings to fully appreciate, reminiscent of Berberian Sound Studio, which also utilizes giallo as a framework while venturing into different territory, though that film serves more as a homage to the style than a pure example of it.

      Nonetheless, The House with Laughing Windows brilliantly establishes a tone and manipulates expectations. Moving forward, this definitive 4K UHD version is the only way to experience the film. With this level of quality in their 4K releases, whatever is next on their agenda will have big shoes to fill.

      Flickering Myth Rating –