the last film by underrated director alberto de martino ( the antichrist and the killer be on the phone ) be a truly suspenseful but incomprehensibly neglect giallo and contain pretty much all the trademark that make this italian horror sub genre so magnificent and addictive to the fan . there be some very disturbing theme ( child abuse and phony priest ) and load of creepy moment and plot twist leave and right and outstanding music and last but not least a handful of really sadistic murder scene . especially the opening sequence and which be some kind of prologue and be a powerful piece of horror . what be it about ordinary child doll that make them so creepy . when the anonymous man and dress up like a priest and assault a little girl and the broken head of her doll bounce down a flight of stair and it really send cold shiver through my spine . year later and the young girl from the prologue be an adult woman bound to a wheelchair . she inherit a lot of money but use her fortune to stimulate fellow handicap people to practice sport and to remain positive mind . she joanna fall in love with her personal coach and they get married right away . naturally and he only after her money and start terrorize joanna by make her relive the childhood trauma that cripple her . the repeated image of a sinister look priest and guide by eerie tune and a nursery rhyme and provide formula for a murder with a ton of genuine scare and alberto de martino directing be very resolute . the acting be quite competent and with david warbeck ( the beyond and the black cat ) in a glorious greedy villain role . due some plot hole and a lack of originality and this movie might not be able to compete with italy best horror effort and but it definitely deserve more attention . many formerly obscure and unknown italian gialli receive marvelous dvd release and and hopefully and formula for a murder will be give the same treatment really soon . in the meantime and good luck track this baby down .