IFF25 The House with Laughing Windows

Celebrated for its slow-burn suspense and haunting atmosphere, this film throws viewers into a small rural Italian village, following Stefano (Lino Capolicchio), an art restorer hired to work on a mysterious fresco in the local church. The painting, created by a mysterious artist, depicts grotesque scenes of torture and suffering. As Stefano begins his restoration, he discovers unsettling clues about the artist’s life and the sinister history of the village. What begins as a routine assignment gradually spirals into a nightmare as Stefano receives anonymous phone calls and warnings, urging him to abandon the project. The townsfolk behave with secrecy, and a growing sense of menace permeates the sleepy village. The truth Stefano uncovers leads to a shocking and disturbing climax, one of the most unforgettable in Italian horror. Unlike the more flamboyant gialli of Dario Argento or Mario Bava, director Pupi Avati crafts a restrained, atmospheric thriller, relying less on violence and more on mood, paranoia, and psychological unease. With its eerie pacing, haunting visuals, and an ending that leaves viewers deeply unsettled, The House with Laughing Windows is often hailed as one of the most disturbing and artful giallo films of the 1970s.