Emilio Miraglia’s The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave is a an Italian-made British horror film that features velvet suits, gloved killers, the unexpected appearance of free-spirited bands, J&B whiskey, and burials. But that is actually about par for the course for an Italian horror film from the ’70s. Keep reading for more reasons you need to see it!
Lord Alan Cunningham is a wealthy aristocrat who has just been released from a mental institution, following the death of his redheaded wife Evelyn. Alan caught his wife sucking face with a random man before he was institutionalized. People handle grief differently and Alan handles his grief the best way he knows, which is by luring redheaded strippers and prostitutes to his home so he can torture and eventually kill them. Since Alan cannot get revenge on his dead wife for cheating, any other redheaded woman will have to do! One night Alan decides to take the advice of his friend Richard, who suggests Alan get a second wife who looks similar to Evelyn, minus the red hair. Alan marries a woman named Gladys in the hopes of curing himself of his murderous impulses. Unfortunately, things become far worse and more bizarre murders persist.
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The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave is anything but typical. It features a series of unpredictable twists and turns. As the audience, we’re constantly guessing because we never quite know where anyone stands until the turning point.
The atmosphere at the climax of the film is unforgettable! Although it has similarities to the giallo offerings of the ’70s, this picture is really its own thing. It’s full of bizarre subplots and unbelievable goings on. For instance, everyone in the film knows that Lord Alan has a nasty habit of murdering women, however, literally everyone overlooks his obsession with bloodshed for one reason or another.
If it is an unusual Italian horror film you seek, you will not be disappointed with The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave. It is filled with intensity; it features a disturbing plot; Bruno Nicolai’s score is haunting and memorable;, and the cinematography is amazing. My advice before watching the film? Be patient. It has a slow start, but it’s well worth it when things start to come together.
