31 Nights of Halloween part 11 - Mill of the Stone Women

Mill of the Stone Women
96 mins.
Dir. Giorgio Ferroni
1960/Italy/France

In the obscure gothic horror department this month we have an atmospheric tale that is credited as the first color Italian horror film.  Tonight we are watching an Italian-French co-production set against the windmill land of Holland that is reminiscent of such movies as House of Wax, Eyes Without a Face and even a sprinkling of Corman's Poe films and a touch of Bava.  Get out your wooden shoes, we are going to the visit the Mill of the Stone Women.

A slow brooding gothic horror story that weighs in heavy on the atmosphere.  It involves Prof. Wahl a renowned art instructor and sculptor and his daughter Elfie, a secluded woman with a rare disease that any sudden shock or reason to be upset can have traumatic effects.  Enter Hans von Arnim, Hans is writing a piece on Prof. Whal and most notably the centennial of his carousel of sculptures.  Which mainly depict women through out the ages being tortured or committing heinous crimes.  Of course Elfie being stuck in the windmill home/art studio instantly takes a liking to Hans and considering that Elfie played by Scilla Gabel has a slight Barbara Steele look to her, it is easy to see why Hans instantly falls for her.  Within five minutes of their meeting, they profess their undying love for each other until Hans comes to his senses and remembers that he actually in a relationship with Liselotte, who also happens to be a student of Prof. Whal's.  If that wasn't enough, you also have Dr. Bohlem who also resides at the windmill to take care of Elfie in her sickness but is also secretly in love with her and knows a mysterious secret.

Whew ok, guess what happens next.  Ok, I'll just tell you.  Elfie gets pissed when she sees Hans kissing Liselotte and you know what happens when Elfie gets pissed.  Right, she gets sick and apparently dies.  Hans is like holy shit I am out of here, before I get blamed for this.  But returning to the windmill to continue his work, he gets drugged by Dr. Bohlem and has a crazy acid trip where he thinks he sees Elfie alive again and Prof. Whal blaming him for her death.  Hans frantically confronts the Prof. about it and low and behold who comes walking down the stairs, but Elfie.  Hans now says, I must be fucking nuts, I am out of here and heads home to marry Liselotte.  One would think all would be well after this, but you can't keep a good mad scientist or a crazed dad who loves his daughter down and people get kidnapped, other people get mummified (that's actually the stone in the title), someone gets stabbed and Hans has to rush in and save the day.

While the pacing in this film is slow, especially the first half, it really makes up for it in atmosphere.  The mill is a great location and what little we see of the cloudy gray Dutch landscape only adds to the foreboding tale that lies ahead.  The sets in the mill are filled with stone bodies, skull and crosses, the carousel itself is a creepy demented Disney attraction that has a choppy movement as we watch Joan of Arc, Cleopatra and other plod along in their misshapen wax visages.  All perfect for this gothic macabre setting.

We have seen the over protective father in other films that will do whatever is necessary to give their daughter the most normal life they can again.  Even if that means others must lose their lives, but Prof Wahl believes in recycling and no life goes to waste.  The flashes of color, mostly blues and stark contrasts of red especially when Elfie lies on her bed ready to seduce poor Hans are quote striking.  I can almost picture an American version of this directed by Roger Corman during his Poe period starring Vincent Price as Prof. Wahl.  But perhaps that could be because this film also has some similarities to Price's House of Wax.

If gothic European horror is your thing, this is a must see.  Slow paced, but oozing with atmosphere, good performances and a solid story,  And if not try something new, we'll be back to the modern times soon enough with some more bloodshed.  But the greatest experiences in life are trying something new.  You never know what you'll find.