An acceptable Giallo in which our starring becomes involved in a dangerous game of sex, lies, blackmail, treason, double-crossing and death by tacky 70s home decor. A wealthy doctor Andrea Valenti (Gianni Garko) accidentally kills his mistress, then the surgeon falls victim of blackmail. Dr. Andrea Valenti is a prestigious surgeon who works in a hospital in Rome and has a lover, Daniela, and a beautiful secretary (Pilar Velazquez) .Her wife, whom he is thinking of divorcing, has just left the asylum where she was confined for years. Evelyne Graffi (Baker) and Daniela (Paola Senatore) are not only stepsisters, but also lovers. Evelyne who was also romantically involved with Andrea in the past - encourages the relationship only because Andrea frequently gives Daniela money, but that doesn't stop her from being insanely jealous whenever the two are together. The well known surgeon Andrea Valenti accidentally kills his mistress in the course of a heated argument, Andrea pushes her, and she falls on some decorative plants with metallic leaves, fatally injuring herself. The leaves of that artificial plant are pointed and sharp like knives, and Daniela dies instantly. Fearing that no one would believe it was an accident, Andrea decides to make her body disappear. Since he is a surgeon and has extensive anatomical knowledge, he prepares to dismember the body in the bathtub, using his scalpel and other professional tools. He then carries the pieces in plastic bags to the trunk of his car, being observed in the process by a gossipy neighbor. He transports the remains of the body to the crusher of a garbage dump, and he watches, somewhat calmer, as the "evidence of the crime" turns into puree. Along the way, the surgeon carries out undisguised attempts to get rid of his stalkers. Later, a killer commits other gruesome murders in cold blood. Who could it be behind the blackmail?.
A passable and attractive dramatic thriller with a surprising premise, twists, turns and red herrings, being competently paced and made in Gialloesque style . A Giallo/thriller about a alleged murderer whose lover dies with a metal sculpture of a flower, later he tries to cover-up his crime never realizing he's being watched by someone lurking, then he begins receiving menacing phone calls from an unknown witness. The film contains violence, thrills, chills, grisly killings and lots of nudism. Although there is not much intrigue because we know from the first moment who the murderer is, therefore no necessary assumption what in other films of the Giallo genre it does happen, here the film focuses on an embarrassed doctor and his followers, stalkers and cops , developing between them a game of cat and mouse in which the police usually tends to lose. Stars Gianni Garco who surprisingly gives a good performance as the disturbing and bewildered doctor. A psychological giallo from Italy that can compete with the best representatives of other best known Italian directors. Very interesting and tense giallo with an atypical approach for the genre. Normally it is not discovered until the end who the murderer is, and yet in this film we know from the first moment that the author of the "crime" is our protagonist. The plot develops from his attempts to evade the investigations of the police and the uncomfortable Evelyn. In reality, in this Italian-style thriller there has not even been a murder: Daniela's death, after stabbing herself with the "steel petals" has been purely accidental. But who would believe it, taking into account the terrible relations he had with her wife?
Luckily for her, Dr. Valenti is about to call the whole thing off. The fact that we know in advance what has happened does not diminish the intrigue of the story in any way. That's way this plot structure is reminiscent of the episodes of the famous series "Colombo", with Peter Falk. There, too, the viewer knew who the murderer was, and the plot revolved around the investigation of the colorful detective, and the "mistakes" that the suspect could make by giving himself away. Revolving around the supposedly guilty homicidal doctor and guess who the real murderer is until an incredible and surprising plot twist that is the best part of the movie. "The Flower with Steel Petals" stars Italian-Croatian Gianni Garko as the protagonist, in the role of the beleaguered surgeon Andrea Valenti. Gianni Garko is a regular in the polizzieschi and Italo subgenres, especially Spaghetti Western with his character as the unforgettable Sartana. For her part, Evelyn is played by the American of Polish origin Carroll Baker -real name Karolina Piekarski, muse of Umberto Lenzi y she starred a lot of Hollywood fims, then she emigrated Italy where starred sex comedy a various Giallos. This American actress won a great triumph with Baby Doll (1956), after she did some Westerns. Being historically or aesthetically significant her performances : Giant (1956) and John Ford's How the West was won and Cheyenne Autumn . Signed a contract with Paramount Studios in 1963. She was given roles originally slated for Paramount starlet Stella Stevens - Harlow , The Carpetbaggers and Sylvia . The studio felt Baker was a more experienced dramatic actress and just as alluring. Then , Carroll was to Italy where she performed a lot of Giallos and softcore films , such as : "L'harem , The sweet body of Deborah , Orgasm , Paranoia, The Devil with Seven Faces, Knife of Ice, Death at the Deep , End of the Swimming Pool , Il Corpo, The Private Lesson, The Virgin Wife" .
The sometimes hypnotic soundtrack was composed by Marcello Giombini, author of the frightening film music for Joe D'Amato's controversial "Anthropophagus" and habitual composer of Spaghetti Westerns and Rafael Romero Marchent movies. The motion picture was professionally directed by Gianfranco Piccioli. Rating: 6/10. The picture will appeal to Giallo fans.
