IFF25 All the Colours of the Dark

A surreal and stylish giallo directed by Sergio Martino, blending psychological thriller, occult horror, and lysergic imagery. The film stars Edwige Fenech as Jane Harrison, a young woman living in London who is plagued by horrific nightmares following a traumatic car accident and a miscarriage. Her mental state deteriorates as she becomes convinced, she is being stalked by a mysterious, dark-eyed man with a knife. Desperate for relief, Jane attends a bizarre black magic ritual introduced to her by her neighbour Mary (Marina Malfatti). Instead of alleviating her fears, the initiation entangles her in a sinister cult whose members blur the lines between dream and reality. As Jane’s visions intensify, she can no longer distinguish between hallucinations, occult manipulation, and actual threats, leading to a suspenseful and shocking climax. The result is a hallucinatory experience, enhanced by Bruno Nicolai’s haunting score, which shifts from delicate melodies to dissonant, unsettling tones. Unlike more straightforward murder mysteries, All the Colours of the Dark leans heavily into surrealism and paranoia, making it one of the more unique gialli of the 1970s. It combines the genre’s familiar elements, gloved killers, eroticism, and suspense with occult themes, creating an atmosphere that is both nightmarish and hypnotic. Today, it is regarded as a cult classic and one of Sergio Martino’s finest works.