Hyena Of London

LA IENA DI LONDRA

1964

In the 1880s, serial killer Martin Bauer is hung for his many crimes. Soon after, his body disappears from its grave and the murders begin again. Dr. Dalton is convinced Bauer is responsible. Henry Quinn, an irresponsible young man returns to be with his love, Muriel, the daughter of Dr. Dalton. Dalton's alcoholic assistant, Anthony Finney, is secretly in love with Muriel and sets up Quinn as a suspect in the recent killings. He's arrested, but the murders continue to occur. When Muriel is found murdered on the grounds near her estate, the film's shocking storyline reveals a surprising mix of incestuous desires and brain grafts involving the corpse of Martin Bauer.

This is an obscure, B&W Italian horror film that saw only a small theatrical release in Rome before disappearing to the small screen. Often confused as part of the German Edgar Wallace films made during the same time, THE HYENA OF LONDON is a competent shocker with a gloomy and effective atmosphere. The story centers on the doomed relationships all the characters are involved in. The death of Muriel definitely comes as a shock as rarely was the female romantic lead killed off! The film's director, Luigi Mangini, made a few other B&W crime films (also starring Tony Kendall) before vanishing into obscurity. Luciano Pigozzi (aka Alan Collins), a familiar face to Italian horror films, has a small part as the doctor's manservant. It's interesting to note that all the female victim's of the killer are found with their dresses pulled up, suggesting they were raped too. A subtle reminder that Europeans had no qualms with going beyond the taboos of the time period.