This cut-rate Italian giallo effort stars Daniela Giordano as Margaret, a recently paroled ex-reprobate who takes up residence in a broken-down mansion where she is soon terrorized by both the house's creepy owner and the red-hooded minions of a Satanic death cult, whose leader abducts young women for ghastly sacrificial rituals. This scenario serves as a vehicle for numerous violent images -- mysteriously appearing patches of blood, perverse S&M tableaux, and graphic impalements with a ceremonial spear, to name but a few -- some of which which may be the product of Margaret's own disturbed mind. Thoroughly weird and sadistic, this sleazy film aspires to the venerable standard of works by
Mario Bava and
Dario Argento but falls considerably short of the mark. Even the presence of
Raf Vallone -- wasted in an undemanding role that amounts to suave window-dressing -- fails to enhance the proceedings. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide