Matrixston
Wow! Such a good movie.
BroadcastChic
Excellent, a Must See
ActuallyGlimmer
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
lost-in-limbo
Doctor Craig Mannings is having visions where he sees himself killing women, but he slowly realises he's actually seeing through the eyes of a killer. What happens to be link? Low-budget psychotic thriller (with a touch of Giallo) that's bizarre and seedy, but not in an exploitative sense
favouring European atmospherics and erotica than all-out crass and graphic exploitation. That's not say there aren't any sleazy and trash elements, but there's a certain style and chic to the production that lifts it up a notch. One thing that sticks with you is Ennio Morricone's layered music score. Emotional, simmering and truly unsettling. This complements Michael Moriarty's dual performance of two extremes. This two-sided turn is a magnificent blend of confidently underplayed and insanely creepy. Moriarty is a joy to watch, especially when he comes face to face with himself. This is where the tension arises, as a viewer we know what might happen while the characters are playing the chase up game. Moriarty playing the evil twin role simply got under my skin and the acts of violence handed out by this character are merciless. The twist when it comes is nightmarish, but the ending paints a very haunting suggestion that gives the film an effective sting because of its convincing performances. Nice touches by director Albert De Martino. Writing-wise there can be some inconsistent patterns (mainly past developments and character motivations), but it feels more like a mood piece with our two central characters (Moriarty superbly at work) interacting. One wanting to help, while the other wants no such thing. There's real solid support by Penelope Milford (who's fantastic in the very final scene), Geraldine Fitzgerald and quick cameo part for Cameron Mitchell.
sol
***SPOILERS*** Strange tale of two identical Siamese Twines, played by the prying mantas or string bean looking Michael Moriarty, separate at birth who go on in life in two opposite directions. One Craig Manning a respected and well loved doctor in the USA and the "Evil One" of the two Keith a ruthless serial murderer in far off Germany who specializes in murdering well stacked women,both young and middle age, after having sex with them. It's the good twin Craig who get's visions of women being murdered that tips him off on his twin brother Keith's, who supposedly died in a house fire in Cleveland at the age of 17, murder spree across the Atlantic.Craig While taking a trip to Hamburg Germany, where he saw Keith commit his murders, where Keith is soon spotted and mistaken for him at a Hamburg coffee shop by by one Craig's former patients ex-boxer and now professional wrestler Bud Waldo, Cameron Mitchell,whom he treated some time ago for an arm injury. Feeling that he may uncover his true identity in him not being Craig Manning has Keith trick Waldo, who has a serious heart condition, into a friendly sparring session with him in the park. With Keith hitting the much older man in all directions and not for once letting up induces Waldo to drop dead of a massive heart attack. Now really getting into it Keith goes all out to murder anyone, not just sexy and buxom women, who can figure out or prove that he's in fact not Craig but Keith! Keith uses this sham to murder at his heart's desire and have Craig take the blame for it!It's when Craig's busty & sexy secretary as well as lover Julie Warren, Penelope Milford, realizes his dreams or visions are real and has the local authorities in Hamburg headed by police inspector Hessinger, Reinhold Olszewski, check out Keith whereabouts and connection to the murders that Craig is now being blamed for that Keith targets her for his next victim. In that she can prove that Craig in fact does have an identical twin who's been murdering at will and laying the blame for his murders to his brother Craig! ***SPOILERS*** It's difficult to believe that Keith can commit so many murders in the movie without anyone not only not suspecting he committed them but not being able to catch him as well. Keith finally slips up when he sets up Julie as his next victim. It's during his hot and heavy sexual tryst with her that he drops his switchblade knife and ends up getting it plunged into his back by Julie before he could retrieve it! Now dead and on a slab in the morgue Craig come to bid his twin brother Keith a final farewell that in fact turns out to be fatal for him! ***MAJOR SPOILER***The films crazy and unexplained ending in the dead not only raising from the grave or morgue but taking over someone's body and mind was just too much for me to take. Up until then "Blood Link" at least made some kind of sense as a crime thriller but in it's suddenly turning into a supernatural horror movie it took any credibility that was still left in the film away for it.
udar55
Dr. Craig Mannings (Michael Moriarty) believes he has discovered a revolutionary psychology technique and has been using himself as the guinea pig. Unfortunately, these experiments allow Mannings to see through the eyes of someone else and that person is murdering folks. Turns out he is seeing through the eyes of Keith (Moriarty again), his Siamese twin that Craig believed was dead. Using clues from his visions, Craig tracks Keith to Germany but soon finds out that his brother wants him there to create the perfect patsy for his crimes.Alberto De Martino directed this Italian/German co-production. While you won't get anything original with the plot of normal twin/evil twin, it is worth seeing solely for the performances by Moriarty. Moriarty has the "normal" sibling as slightly odd, while the "evil" one is like he is playing Klaus Kinski on a good day. The scenes of them interacting are particularly enjoyable. Also worth mentioning is a scene where the evil Keith gleefully punches an aging boxer (Cameron Mitchell) - who just happened to have been treated by Craig in the States - to death in a park. Moriarty is clearly having fun throughout the picture (or is slightly intoxicated). Sadly, the rest of the film isn't up to the level of Moriarty's enthusiasm. De Martino reveals the twin twist way too early and with all the dazzle of a kid's party magician. Also, the plot is full of holes and silly coincidences (odds of your unknown twin running into a patient you treated in a cafe in Germany?) that, at times, make you feel like a reel was left out. The ending - where Craig's woman is in danger - could have been a suspenseful game of cat-and-mouse but unfolds with a thud. On the plus side, there is some nice location work in Berlin and a nice Morricone score.
Coventry
I'm strangely fascinated by the acting career of Michael Moriarty. He's rather odd-looking and never seems to know what's going on, yet he was often offered important horror roles during the 1980's. Especially, by Larry Cohen who cast him in "Q The Winged Serpent" and "The Stuff". Well, "Blood Link" isn't exactly an important film, but it's easily his most ambitious and valuable role. Your first impression will probably be that he's terribly miscast in his double role as sadistic murderer and the telepathically linked twin brother who pursues him, but he actually grows in his role and gets more convincing as the story develops. Craig Mannings is a doctor living in the United States who's frequently disturbed by nightmares in which he sees himself committing gruesome murders. He's instantly reminded of his former Siamese twin brother Keith, only he supposedly dies in an arson at age 17. The search brings him to Hamburg where the sane & insane brother will be reunited, although not without a lot of bloodshed. "Blood Link" is an interesting, albeit slow and implausible thriller with some clear giallo influences and a most enchanting score by master Ennio Morricone. Alberto De Martino one of Italy's most criminally underrated director professionally and adds in twists, nifty murders and even some nudity whenever you tend to lost interest. Although nearly not shocking or violent enough to rank among Italy's better thrillers, fans might find it enjoyable and worth tracking down.