Death Smiles on a Murderer

Death Smiles on a Murderer

Year: 1973

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Joe D'Amato

HorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsGothic and eerie haunting horrorGory gruesome and slasher horrorChilling experiments and classic monster horror

Greta, a beautiful young woman, is abused by her brother Franz and abandoned to die during childbirth by her lover, the aristocrat Dr. von Ravensbrück. Grief‑stricken, Franz uses an ancient Incan‑inscribed formula to resurrect her. Greta returns as an undead avenger, hunting down the Ravensbrück family and confronting her obsessive brother.

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Timeline & Setting – Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1906–1909

The narrative alternates between 1906, when Greta dies in childbirth and Franz seeks to resurrect her, and 1909, when Greta returns as a revenant. Set in early 20th-century Europe, it blends aristocratic manners with Gothic horror. The era hints at emerging scientific curiosity, secret laboratories, and occult lore shaping a deadly agenda. The mood is moody and suspenseful, emphasizing lineage, forbidden love, and mortality.

Location

Ravensbrück Villa, Underground Laboratory, Graveyard, Granary

The Ravensbrück family mansion is the film's core setting: a sprawling, Gothic villa with a crypt-like room that houses occult experiments. An underground laboratory beneath the estate becomes the workshop where life is attempted to be cheated from death. The surrounding grounds include a cemetery and a granary, each a stage for spectral presence and murder. The opulent interiors and shadow-filled corridors create a claustrophobic atmosphere suited to the tale's mystery.

🏰 Gothic manor 🕳 Secret laboratory 🪦 Graveyard 🌫 Haunted estate

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:17

Main Characters – Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973)

Meet the key characters of Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Dr. Sturges

A brilliant, secretive physician-scientist who labors in an underground workshop to reanimate the dead. His experiments reveal a dangerous mix of ambition, cold rationalism, and ethical compromise.

🧪 Scientist 🕵️‍♂️ Secretive 🗝 Morally ambiguous

Greta von Holstein

A young woman whose death and subsequent return as an undead revenant drives the entire narrative. Greta exerts a chilling, alluring presence and embodies vengeance as much as desire.

👁 Enigmatic 🩸 Revenant 💔 Vengeful

Eva von Ravensbrück

Walter's wife, consumed by jealousy and ambition. She orchestrates Greta's confinement and wields control through manipulation and fear.

💎 Jealous 🪦 Ruthless 🗝 Calculating

Walter von Ravensbrück

A refined noble whose romantic interest in Greta destabilizes family loyalties. His interactions with Greta become a catalyst for betrayal and tragedy.

🏛 Aristocrat 💘 Romantic 🌀 Obsessive

Inspector Dannick

The persistent investigator probing Greta's disappearance. He pieces together clues while the Ravensbrück household remains unsettled by shadows and rumors.

🕵️ Inspector 🧭 Investigative 🕳 Skeptical

Professor Kempte

A scholar who explains the medallion's symbols and glimpses the ancient lore behind the resurrection plan. He links Franz's past to the current mystery.

📜 Scholar 🧪 Alchemist of life 🗺 Arcane knowledge

Simeon

The Ravensbrück servant who is drawn into Greta's deadly games and becomes a casualty of the supernatural vendetta.

🪪 Servant 🕯 Obedient 🩸 Victim

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:17

Major Themes – Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973)

Explore the central themes of Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪦 Undeath

Undeath and resurrection probe the boundaries between science and nature. Dr. Sturges' attempt to revive Greta shows humanity's hubris and the costs of playing god. Greta's return embodies both allure and horror, turning love into danger. The theme is used to explore guilt, obsession, and mortality.

💔 Obsession

Passion and jealousy drive the plot: Eva's love for Walter fuels Greta's perilous arc. Walter's attraction to Greta strains loyalties and destabilizes the household. Pursuit of possession leads to deception, murder, and a fatal masquerade.

🎭 Masks

Masquerade and illusion reveal hidden identities and motives. Greta's disguise during the party exposes the fragility of appearances and the horror behind familiar faces. The undead transformation underscores duality between surface and substance. The narrative blurs lines between living and dead, truth and performance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:17

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Death Smiles on a Murderer Summary

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Death Smiles on a Murderer Summary

Death Smiles on a Murderer Timeline

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Death Smiles on a Murderer Timeline

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Death Smiles on a Murderer (1973) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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