Your Vice Is A Locked Room and Only I Have the Key is another film from the legendary Italian director Sergio Martino that has just been released in a beautiful DVD edition by NoShame Films. The film is essentially Martino’s version of Edgar Allen Poe’s story “The Black Cat”, but it also functions as a very well-rounded slice of obscure 70s cinema, containing all of the wonderful fucked-up themes and situations that fans of Italian 70s cult movies dig, from corrupt couples, lesbianism and incest to a classic giallo killer, grisly flesh-slicing, and vibrant, bright blood.

Your Vice gives the viewer a glimpse into the lives of a particularly dysfunctional married duo—the husband, Oliviero Rouvigny (Luigi Pistilli) is a failed and floundering author who spends his days abusing his wife, Irina Rouvigny (Anita Strindberg), a woman who takes out her suppressed anger on Oliverio’s cat (peculiarly named Satan). After a series of mysterious murders break out near and in the home of the couple, Oliverio is accused of committing them, and after the blaming finger is pointed in his direction…well, I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s just say that things just get more and more depraved and demented, and it becomes apparent that this film is about to unfold into one great giallo.

The music in Your Vice is awesome, and while good music is not uncommon in the world of giallos, the tunes in this movie can easily hold up to any other giallo soundtrack in terms of sheer atmosphere creation and pure 70s grooviness.

NoShame have really delivered an outstanding version of this film—the picture is as colorful and clear as possible and the many extras (interviews with the director, stars, and screenwriter, a poster and still gallery, and a “collectible booklet” of liner notes and talent bios) are a really nice touch.

I recommend this DVD to all those looking for a creepy, entertaining, and perverse good time, and it goes without saying that this is a must-have for all collectors of films “not like most”.

-Spooky Steve