The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

REVIEW
Italian maestro of the macabre Argento's directorial debut, Bird is a stylish murder mystery with Musante as an American author who, after witnessing an attempted homicide, becomes obsessed with solving the case himself. A string of murders are linked to this latest crime, so Musante becomes a valuable asset to a major investigation. The killer soon targets Musante and the writer comes to find himself to be both hunter and hunted. This film has all the trademarks of later Argento films: the bizarre and violent setpiece murders; the red herrings; the unusual camera angles and setups; and the inquisitive outsider who holds the key to solving the mystery. One important difference, however, is Argento's use of an atmospheric Ennio Morricone score. An impressive beginning to a career which has gotten even better.