Luigi Pastore

Writer/Director Symphony in Blood Red (2010) aka Come Una Crisalide

 

A little while back I found out about a new Italian thriller/giallo that was gaining strong support in its native country, and I was surprised to see that this film a comeback by a forgotten master, nor an established film maker crossing genres but a new director named Luigi Pastore who was looking to help re-establish Italy's place on the horror/thriller map.

 

Please note that this review had been submitted to other sites prior to the creation of So Sweet...So Perverse.

 

SSSP: How is the Italian scene at the moment? In your opinion can it ever get back to its earlier glory?

 

L: Unfortunately, today the Italian productions are concerned only with comedy. Nobody is interested in producing a thriller or horror movie. Only independent productions manage to keep the genre alive

 

SSSP: You’re love of Argento is well documented. Growing up what were your favourite films and biggest influences?

 

L: Dario Argento’s movies have been very important to my choice of making the films. I love them all, because I love an artist in his entirety. You cannot love only a few works by Caravaggio, for example, but all his works are very important. But if I have to choose only some films, sure I put at the top The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, Deep Red, Suspiria, Tenebre, Opera.

 

SSSP: Are you happy with the reception that the film received on release and do you see it as helping to encourage the release of further Italian horror/thrillers?

 

L: Yes, I’m very glad that my first film is appreciated. I am aware of having made a small film, but I did it really from the heart. Of course I still want to do another thriller, but I will endeavour to make it even better.

 

SSSP: For your debut film you managed to work with three iconic stars of the Italian film industry. How did that come about and what was it like?

 

L: I have been very lucky. It was a great privilege to work with them, but also a great responsibility. I could not afford to do a lousy job.

 

SSSP: Furthermore in the fantastic documentary included on the film disc you feature footage from Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi and Luigi Cozzi amongst others, did you know them prior to the film and has their support helped raise the profile of Symphony in Blood Red?

 

L: Yes, I know all these artists for a long time. We are very good friends and we have often worked together on other projects. In addition, they are always guests at the Italian Horror Fest City of Neptune, the festival that I do in the summer like organizer and artistic director.

 

SSSP: One thing that impressed me was how well written the part of the killer was, did you find it difficult to convey his mental state and why are we led to feel some sympathy or pity for him?

 

L: Because he is actually a victim. He is the victim from the beginning, since he was born, since he was abandoned by his mother. I think that for a person must be really terrible to discover that he had been abandoned by his birth.

 

SSSP: Abandonment as much as rejection appears to be a trigger for the initial killing, why did you choose these feelings and was it in anyway cathartic for you or Antonio?

 

L: I was inspired by a true story actually happened. Then in the script we have also added pedophilia to make the character even more dramatic. Abandonment is the key of his madness.

 

SSSP: We never clearly see the killers face, why is that?

 

L: It was my chosen style from the beginning. I never wanted to see the face of the protagonist, because I think that evil has no face.

 

SSSP: Does his final love interest (Lisa) offer him a final chance at redemption or is he a lost cause at that moment and beyond saving?

 

L: Love is the most important feeling of all our lives. Love is able to defeat the fears and loneliness. But it can also become dangerous when is not reciprocated. Then, it can become obsession.

 

SSSP: Nearer the end the killer appears haunted by his actions, is that remorse or simply the effect of his mind?

 

L: It is the awareness of being now come to an end. He wants to be stopped, as it often happens for many serial killers.

 

Currently Luigi Pastore is working on the remake of German gorefest 'Violent Shit', starring legendary Italian film icons Giovanni Lombardo Radice and cameos from Antonio Tentori, Enzo G. Castellari and our favourite Luigi Cozzi.

 

You can find out more about the films of Luigi Pastore on the Lu.Pa film website.