Macabre is based on real events (ahem). A middle-aged woman (Jane) is having an affair. She leaves her young son and daughter alone in their house to meet up with her lover for a passionate tryst. Unfortunately, her daughter is psychopathic and drowns her brother in the bath. Jane learns of this and rushes home in her lovers car with him driving. They have an accident and he is decapitated.

Jane has spent a year in a mental institution and is then released. She decides to take a home in the boardinghouse that she used to meet her lover in. The woman who managed the property has since passed away and her blind son, Robert now runs it.

To tell you anymore of the plot would ruin the considerable surprises within the film.

Macabre is the debut film by Lamberto Bava, son of Mario. It’s brilliantly directed, gorgeously photographed and is full of opulent, sumptuous settings.

It’s also completely unhinged in places. The last ten minutes have to seen to be believed. You realise that Bernice Stegers as Jane was fantastic casting. She really throws herself into her role and does crazy very well indeed. In fact, the entire cast are excellent.

There’s also some cracking, thoroughly wicked dialogue along the way. An example is where Jane is applying make-up in the mirror and being assisted by her Bad Seed daughter. Jane mentions that as her daughter gets older, she’ll start wearing make-up, to which her daughter quips, ‘Will I have all of the lines around my eyes that you have?!’ Ouch!

People have compared Macabre to Hitchcock and De Palma. It’s not that good, but it’s still a demented, twisted ride.

3.5 out of 5 stars