Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

So Sweet, So Dead Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 6, 2020

1972’s “So Sweet, So Dead” is listed as a giallo, and it has most of the elements of one. There’s a murderer on the loose, clad in black with a fondness for knives, stalking and slaughtering victims while a lone detective tries to predict the madman’s next move before he strikes again. Director Roberto Bianchi Montero has the idea for a thriller, but he’s a little distracted with the endeavor, which is more focused on getting actresses out of their clothes before requesting absolute hysterics during dying scenes. There’s definitely a routine to “So Sweet, So Dead,” and not a particularly riveting one, with the production more about sexploitation than becoming a ripping giallo.

Mercifully, Farley Granger takes on the lead role, portraying a fatigued detective trying to make sense of a series of murders involving unfaithful women. He’s strong in the role, trying to get something dramatic going while the production tends to downplay the mystery, favoring heaps of nudity as female characters are often caught undressing, having sex, or even enjoying nude massages. The screenplay sets up possible suspects, and Montero sticks with genre demands, creating a dark killer who wears a nylon mask. But there’s really nothing more to the picture than a few murder set pieces and a lot of naked bodies, with the production gradually losing concentration on heated matters of life and death as the story unfolds.

So Sweet, So Dead Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Listed as a "2017 HD scan with extensive color correction done in the U.S.", "So Sweet, So Dead" arrives on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Clarity is generally quite good, offering a bright visual presentation that delivers on costuming textures and facial surfaces. Decorative elements are also satisfactory as the action works around homes and offices. Colors are alert, with strong period hues on clothing, and interior paint choices are lively. Blood reds remain deep, and skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable, doing well with masked murderer appearances. Source has some rough areas, with scratching and speckling detected, along with damaged frames. A few frames are missing at the 54:13 mark.

So Sweet, So Dead Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix delivers a basic listening event, with dubbed dialogue exchanges intelligible, with mild surges of emotion. Scoring offers a bit more clarity, secured with decent instrumentation and balance for suspense needs. Hiss is present throughout, and popping is periodically encountered.

So Sweet, So Dead Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Trailer (:59, SD) is included.

So Sweet, So Dead Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fans of giallo might respond a bit more enthusiastically to "So Sweet, So Dead," but the feature is a far cry from the best examples of the genre, lacking style and urgency to really get the juices flowing. There are intermittent pleasures of the production, but it's not pulse-pounding stuff, with titillation, not suspense, the picture's ultimate goal.