THE GOLDSMITH *** Italy 2022 Dir: Vincenzo Ricchiuto. 89 mins
A trio of childhood friends turned criminals attempt to raid the house of a goldsmith. You may think this is a crime thriller but you would be deceived. This film slowly descends into some full-on horror madness.
THE GOLDSMITH or L’ORAFO is a sweet revenge thriller turned horror with a string of well done twists that are sometimes a little obvious. Otherwise, this was well written. Germano Tarricone pairs with writer director Vincenzo Ricchiuto to create a script that allows the cast room to display their excellent acting abilities.
For instance, the flashbacks were executed well and were suitably timed. Here we see just how long The Goldsmith, Antonio (Giuseppe Pambieri) has been awaiting his revenge.
My favourite performance was that of Giovanna, the Goldsmith’s wife. She appeared to be a sweet elderly lady until the role reversal. Stefania Casini was excellent and had the comedic timing nailed, adding lightness and humour to a twisted tale.
Other humour came from the masks worn by the trio, showing just how professional they were.
Overall, this is a subtitled indie horror worth a watch.
Review by Poppy Blundell