13. The Short Night of the Glass Dolls (1972)
I like this little Giallo, for me it was quite thrilling to watch. It concerns the fate of Gregory, an American journalist who is discovered apparently dead, but really in a state of catatonia. The film chronicles how he got into this state. The film is in the tradition of movies that exploit the fear of being buried alive. As Gregory lies on the mortuary slab, we have extreme empathy for him as the morgue assistants fiddle with their knives. Wake up Gregory! Wake up! We scream. The movie is also a comment on the then perceived menace of Communism and political repression. It is one of a handful of Giallos that use tension and dread rather than blood and guts to create a reaction in the audience. For heaven's sake Gregory! Wake up!