Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key

Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key is a 1972 Italian giallo film, directed by the prolific Sergio Martino and featuring powerhouse performances from Edwige Fenech, Anita Strindberg, and Luigi Pistilli. The title, bizarrely intriguing with its enigmatic allure, is a reflection of the film itself – a storyline filled with intricate relationships, confusing yet magnetic psychological themes, laced with underlying horror and semi-abstract violence.

The story primarily revolves around Oliviero Rouvigny (played by Luigi Pistilli), a failed writer who lives in a deteriorating mansion in the Italian countryside, inherited from his mother. A tragic figure, Oliviero is not only struggling with the decline of his creativity but also battling alcoholism, showcasing a sense of self-loathing that draws the audience into his world of personal tumult. Setting an atmosphere of eerie unrest, he obsesses over the memory of his deceased mother, whose ominous portrait hangs flamboyantly in the mansion, and whose black cat, Satan, serves as a constant reminder of her malignant influence.

Oliviero's wife, Irina (portrayed by Anita Strindberg), completes this gloomy tableau with her timid character and silent suffering. She tolerates Oliviero's abuses, from his verbal assaults down to his shameless flirtationship with other women, particularly his attractive niece, Floriana (played by Edwige Fenech). As Floriana enters their lives, the plot thickens and spirals down a path laced with suspense, adding an exotic charm to the story. As the narrative unfolds, she instigates a series of events that interlock the psychological realities and dark secrets of the mansion and its inhabitants.

A series of grisly murders occur around the decaying mansion, with every woman resembling Oliviero's late mother falling victim, mirroring the storyline of Edgar Allan Poe's tale "The Black Cat", on which the film is loosely based. The perpetually accused Oliviero is compelled to hide a corpse due to compelling circumstantial evidence pinning him as the perpetrator. His self-destructive behavior blurs the line between innocence and guilt, leading viewers down a winding track of suspense. Is he the murderer, or is he the next victim?

As the murders continue, suspicion transfers from character to character, keeping viewers guessing about the identity of the actual murderer. The shocking and often brutal murders are interspersed with scenes showcasing an exploration of complex human emotions, perverse pleasure, simmering resentment, and looming fear.

Director Sergio Martino masterfully weaves elements of a conventional whodunit with harrowing psychological terror and explicit voyeuristic hedonism, which was a bold move for the time considering the stringent censorship in 1970s cinema.

The true essence of the film lies not only in the mystery or horror, but in the exploration of the twisted human psyche, the portrayal of crumbling relationships punctuated by betrayal, fear, and jealousy, and the underlying theme of oppression symbolic of the decaying mansion itself. The cinematographic expertise evident in the portrayal of the eerie mansion and its lush surrounding landscapes adds an atmospheric depth to the narrative – each frame simultaneously beautiful and haunting.

Edwige Fenech shines in her role as the provocative Floriana, injecting an element of sensuality and unpredictability into the plot. Luigi Pistilli's portrayal of the tormented Oliviero is starkly convincing, while Anita Strindberg's performance as the submissive and terrified Irina is equally impressive. The rest of the ensemble also brings vigor to their roles, rendering their parts convincingly.

The score of the film, composed by Bruno Nicolai, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative, with its evocative melodies heightening the atmosphere of suspense and dread.

Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key is a gripping narrative of despair and suspense that compels viewers to question the nature of morality, trust, and human relationships. With an engaging storyline, stellar performances, and masterly execution, Sergio Martino's cinematic craft shines through, making this film a must-see for fans of the Giallo and horror genres.