La muerte ronda a Mónica (1977) User Reviews (14)

Boobs haunt Monica

[Bezenby · 6/10 · 31 July 2018]

In Spain it appears that ladies keep their telephones in the shower and, when answering the door, have time only to put on a pair of shoes, but not a pair of grundies. Welcome to Death Haunts Monica, an old school giallo (the kind that involves a rich person and loads of untrustworthy people trying to get their money) that has an mid-seventies giallo mindset (loads and loads and loads of nudity).

Monica herself is a rich lady who is married to and stressed out by playboy Jean Sorel, who has used her money to set up a successful company along with friend Arturo (who is also ex-boyfriend of Monica) and Elena, who tells Monica that Jean is having an affair with Eve, who is also Elena's lover. Jean also has a bit of a dodgy past and that comes back to haunt him in the form of Diego, a man who tries to blackmail Jean and discovers it's really Monica who is holding the purse strings.

That's about as much plot as I'm willing to give away as this film relies on its many twists and turns for impact, and as it's looking back towards those late-sixties gialli (like Umberto Lenzi's Paranoia) it wouldn't be fair to spoil anything else that happens. The seventies archetypal black-gloved killer does show up eventually, but even then things aren't so straightforward.

This is a fine example of the genre with an almost complete lack of gore, although every single actress gets naked (and many others do to, just for the sake of it). Jean Sorel has barely aged a day since the last film I watched him in.

A Diabolique-like "Giallo Lite"

[melvelvit-1 · 6/10 · 5 January 2012]

A wealthy woman shoots her husband's blackmailer but he won't stay dead in this twisty DIABOLIQUE-like thriller starring handsome devil Jean Sorel, a little league Alain Delon and a much-beloved "mascot" of 60s and 70s Italian gialli. Director Ramón Fernández may have crafted a run-of-the-mill "erotic thriller" in classic Eurotrash fashion but for a "bloodless" (e.g. psychological) giallo, it's never dull and the Eurobabes all get naked, even the titular death magnet, Naduiska, who looks something like Sophia Loren. Teutonic tart Karin Shubert would later go on to make hardcore porn at the age of forty to support her drug habit.

Who's the killer?

[lastliberal-853-253708 · 6/10 · 18 January 2014]

This outrageous Spanish thriller was distributed in the US as Death Haunts Mónica--an apt enough title until one realizes how much else is haunting the poor girl. Murder, mayhem, kinky Sapphic encounters, and risqué bathing behavior are just a few of the elements in Ramon Fernandez's off-the-wall Giallo.

It features no fewer than three European beauties: Nadiuska, Bárbara Rey, and Karin Schubert. All three are on full display for a significant part of the film. They are accompanied by several others who present brief glimpses.

The principal male, Monica's (Nadiuska) husband, is French actor Jean Sorel. I remember him in front of a firing squad in the original Day of the Jackal. Of course, Monica may be putting him in front of a firing squad if he doesn't leave his mistress (Bárbara Rey).

Elena (Karin Schubert) is plotting to steal the company, and stirring things up with Monica and her husband. But, things get twisted and you don't know who is fooling whom.

Latter-day Spanish giallo with touches of "Diabolique" and Alfred Hitchcock.

[lazarillo · 23 February 2010]

I love gialli, even the bad ones, and this actually a kind of middle-of-the-road one. It is a very obscure entry into the genre and one that didn't even make Adrian Luther-Smith's seminal (and highly recommended) book on the genre "Blood and Black Lace". This is what I would call a "Diabolique-style" gialli because, like the famous French thriller, it involves a group of wealthy, ridiculously attractive people crossing and double-crossing each other in an elaborate sex and murder plot, and it is somewhat different than the ultra-stylized, ultra-violent mass-murder mysteries inspired by Dario Argento's "Bird with Crystal Plumage". But while most of these kind of "Diabolique-style" gialli (i.e. "The Sweer Body of Deborah", "Paranoia", "One on Top of the Other") were made BEFORE Argento's famous debut in 1969, this one was apparently made many years later. I suspect that was because it was mostly a Spanish film that, judging from almost ridiculous amounts of sex, nudity, and generally immoral behavior, was celebrating the recent death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco (and the end of Spanish censorship) in what was called the "destape" period.

A man (Jean Sorel) is married to a rich woman (Maroushka) and has used her money to start a successful company. The man's female partner (Karin Schubert) is using her own lesbian lover (Barbara Rey) to seduce the man into affair and break-up the marriage all in an elaborate plot to take over the company. The man, meanwhile, is being blackmailed by a recently-paroled felon from his past (he was once a criminal and con artist). The rich wife is attacked by who she thinks is the blackmailer. She apparently kills him in self-defense, but, of course, the real plot is much more elaborate and includes several more murders(including a very visually impressive double hanging scene).

French actor Jean Sorel had been in a lot of the early Italian gialli's in the late 60's, but he took his career to Spain in the mid 70's where he appeared in films like this and Eloy Inglesias' "Murder in a Blue World". I'm not familiar with either Marnoushka or Barbara Rey. Neither are especially impressive acting-wise, but that may not have been the main reason they were cast as they both have more nude scenes in this than even Karin Schubert. Schubert was a German actress who did a lot of sexy nudie roles in Italian films in the 70's ("Ubalda-All Naked and Warm", "Black Emanuelle") and then strangely became a hardcore porn star in the late 80's when she was forty-something, addicted to hard drugs, and no longer particularly attractive. This is one of better roles as she gets to play a scheming villainess rather than just a typical blonde piece of tail. I know nothing about the Spanish director, but like fellow Spaniard Eloy Inglesias in "The Glass Ceiling", he is obviously a big Alfred Hitchcock fan, except that he pays homage here to "Dial M for Murder" rather than "Rear Window". Decent giallo. Recommended.

Death waits an awful long time to haunt anyone!

[Coventry · 5/10 · 9 July 2015]

There exist two types of gialli, and I'm not referring to the Italian ones versus all the other countries. No, I'm actually talking about two types of plots. Either a giallo handles about a masked psycho-killer with black gloves who savagely butchers people – preferably pretty young models – with sharp objects, or it handles about a convoluted murder conspiracy complete with sexual intrigues, betrayal and triangular relationships. "Death Haunts Monica", a Spanish giallo released when the glory years of the genre were already fading out, belongs in the second category and it also takes an incredibly long time before the murders start occurring. But don't be alarmed too much because the film still provides plenty of entertainment during the first gore-free hour, thanks to interesting character developments, tension building and – of course – copious amounts of 100% gratuitous nudity. The beautiful and rich Monica is married to Federico (played by Jean Sorel who plays an adulterous scumbag in pretty much every movie I've ever seen starring him) and lives a rather dull and monotonous life inside their big luxurious mansion. Federico and his sex- addicted partner Arturo run a successful company, but Federico also has an affair with the sexy model Eva. However, Eva is actually in a lesbian relationship with Federico's secretary Elena, and the both of them want to blackmail him by threatening to inform Monica about her husband unfaithfulness. And as if life isn't difficult enough already for Federico, a sinister ex-convict shows up at his doorstep and threatens to expose a horrible secret from the past. And then, suddenly, poor Monica is attacked in her own house by a violent perpetrator dressed in black… The main problem with "Death Haunts Monica" is a typical one for over-ambitious gialli from unknown and largely inexperienced directors. The plot and suspense keeps on building up towards a climax that can't possibly meet the expectations that were raised during the film. In spite of all the intrigues and the red herrings and the secrecy, the conclusion is rather dumb and multiple essential key-characters are eliminated abruptly. Like several of my fellow reviewers already pointed out, director Ramón Fernandez clearly tried to imitate the French suspense masterpiece "Les Diaboliques", especially during the wannabe sensual sequences where Nadiuska and Karin Schubert are sitting on a bed naked and conspiring against Federico, but the homage doesn't really work. The character of Arturo is amusing (but totally implausible) and the sub plot with the mysterious Diego definitely holds potential but remains too vague. "Death Haunts Monica" is perhaps worth a look in case you're a fellow giallo-lover and have already seen all the more popular Italian classics, but not a movie worth tracing down.

Sexy giallo with Nadiuska.

[HumanoidOfFlesh · 7/10 · 14 August 2010]

The marriage between Federico and Monica is on the rocks.Federico has a mistress named Eva.There is a conspiracy between Monica's friend Elena and Eva to take over the company Eurozone owned by Federico.Elena and Eva are in a lesbian relationship.The situation becomes complicating when Diego appears,a former associate of Federico and a criminal...Very enjoyable Spanish giallo obviously influenced by legendary French classic "Diabolique".There is plenty of sleaze and full-frontal nudity including lesbian scene between Karin Schubert and Barbara Rey.Nadisuka is exceptionally beautiful and she shows her naked flesh too.A must-see for any self-respecting giallo completist.7 out of 10.

A thriller more concerned with money matters than murder

[jrd_73 · 3/10 · 20 August 2011]

Monica is the pill popping rich (her money) wife of a businessman being blackmailed by a former partner in crime. Said husband has also been carrying on an affair with a model. The affair puts the man's marriage in jeopardy. After a (too) long build up, the blackmailer dies and the body is disposed of, but the corpse re-appears. What is going on? You won't care! This film has a low body count and a predictable outcome. As for the sleaze factor, the nudity is not that plentiful nor, in my opinion, are the women overly attractive. Although Spanish in origin, Death Haunts Monica has the plodding quality of the worst in Italian thrillers.

Unremarkable, but suitably enjoyable

[I_Ailurophile · 7/10 · 13 November 2021]

In a movie that's less than ninety minutes long, a somewhat unfortunate portion of the length is devoted wholly to introducing the many characters that play a part in the story. All the while, the movie is filled with a frank overabundance of dialogue - up until the 40 minute mark, hardly a second goes by that isn't defined by conversation between characters. Thankfully, though the script continues to be overbearing, thereafter the narrative begins in earnest, with ill-doings and mounting intrigue. 'La muerte ronda a Monica,' or 'Death haunts Monica,' isn't the most captivating thriller in the world, but it's duly entertaining all the same.

Poor Monica is little more than a pawn as those around her make plays for money and power. Why, to some extent the film reminds of a Lifetime original movie - the hapless housewife, a web of lies and deceit, a growing body count. I think the editing and sequencing leaves a bit to be desired, as the resulting picture bears a certain unfortunate inelegance in its presentation. Adolfo Waitzman's score is a bit curious, bearing instrumentation and chords that seem strikingly different from similar features, but ultimately it's quite suitable. Overemphasis on dialogue aside, there's nothing particularly remarkable about the screenplay, yet Juan José Alonso Millán's writing is deft enough to keep us guessing until the very end how it's all going to play out. That so much of the plot is left to be revealed at the climax is a little off-putting, and the curtness of the ending no less so. Yet otherwise the movie is sufficiently sound to allay such consternation.

While the plot is a bit intricate, the character writing generally is not, and for the most part the cast fill roles that feel as though they're pretty well predefined. That's not to say that anyone performs poorly; on the contrary, I think everyone illustrates able skill to bring their characters to life. Still, only the title figure is conjured with an especial measure of complexity, and star Nadiuska demonstrates fine range and physicality in realizing the beleaguered woman.

There's not much more to be said. It's rough around the edges, and imperfect, but this is enjoyable enough. There are certainly more worthy thrillers out there, but if you happen to come across 'La muerte ronda a Monica,' it's not a bad way to spend eighty minutes.

Death haunts Monica

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 7 January 2024]

Directed by Ramón Fernández and written by Juan José Alonso Millán, Death Haunts Monica* might seem like a soap opera, but hold out. It's also a giallo.

Frederico (Jean Sorel, Perversion Story) isn't living the high life. His real estate firm Eurozone? A mess with business partners cutting him out. A friend from his smuggling days, Diego (Damián Velasco), is extorting him. And his wife Monica (Nadiuska, yes, just one name; she's in Guyana: Cult of the Damned and played Conan's mom) has just learned that he's having an affair with Eva (Bárbara Rey, The Night of the Sorcerers).

As if things couldn't get worse for Frederico - and Monica - someone breaks into their house when she's home all alone. She shoots whoever it is; they stand right back up and knock her out. Diego's body is left, so the police assume he's who broke in. This eliminates him from the blackmail scheme, except that's when the phone calls start and Monica gets framed for murder. Then there's Elena (Karin Schubert, Emanuelle Around the World), who is trying to play everyone against one another. That's easy when the other partner, Arturo (Arturo Fernández), used to date Monica.

Man, was Jean Sorel typecast in giallo as a man who has no idea how cunning women can be?

Thanks to The Giallo Files for informing me that Il Buio Intorno a Monica translates as Darkness Surrounds Monica.

More of a skin flick

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 4 June 2021]

DEATH HAUNTS MONICA (1975, original title La muerta ronda a Monica) is another Spanish-made giallo set in and around a lonely country villa. Monica, played by popular starlet Nadiuska (best-known to English-speaking audiences for her role as Conan's mum in CONAN THE BARBARIAN) is in an unhappy marriage with her millionaire husband who as it turns out has a passion for adultery. Into their lives comes a sinister blackmailer who turns up at the villa with trouble in mind, and murder ensues. It's a tightly-plotted, twisty-turny sort of production, quite familiar if you know the genre but not without atmosphere and suspense. My main complaint is that the gore and kills are toned down here and in their place the director adds in a ton of nudity which isn't quite the same. I wanted more horror, madness and darkness, not a skin flick. Still, this one's not bad given its low budget and the familiarity of the story. 6/10.

Eurozona.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 8/10 · 21 October 2017]

Taking part in a ICM poll for the best movies of 1976,I started checking the shelf for the DVD of Ruggero Deodato's Italian Crime epic Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man. Looking down the shelves,I was pleased to find the 1976 duo of Nico Mastorakis's debut Death Has Blue Eyes,and an enticing-sounding Giallo,which led to me meeting Mónica.

The plot:

Getting married to heiress Mónica, Federico uses her money to set-up a successful company called Eurozona. Dominating boardroom meetings, Federico starts an affair with Eva, (who is a lesbian,and deeply in love with Elena)Unknown to Federico,Elena and Eva have made plans to blackmail Eurozona out of Federico's hands. Aware of their marriage being in trouble and feeling uncomfortable around Eurozona's co- CEO/her husbands pal Arturo, Mónica is shaken when a burglar enters her house and she shoots him. Waking up after fainting from fear, Mónica finds the dead body of Federico's former business partner Diego. Dropping Diego's body in the river, Mónica soon finds her sanity to drop with it.

View on the film:

Investigating this psychological "bloodless" Giallo with a Film Noir flavour, director Ramón Fernández & cinematographer Hans Burmann make their three leading ladies appear incredible beautiful,with the extended scenes where they are naked being presented in elegant side-shots that give a playfully casual mood to the double-dealing conversations taking place. Smashing into Mónica's mansion, Fernández burns down her life of luxury with ultra-stylised creeping camera moves slithering round the house,and lingering glimpses in the corner of rooms building on the anxiety of Mónica's crumbling mind.

Laying out all of their possessions, the screenplay by Juan José Alonso Millán superbly agitates the gaps in Federico and Mónica "perfect marriage", where Federico's dangerous liaison with Eva brings out a cold Film Noir fear in Mónica of being surrounded by vipers. Racing to a wonderfully odd mad-dash double-crossing revelation to the mystery, Millán chips into Mónica's doubts over her sight with gripping Giallo sleigh of hand that in this case actually does run like clockwork, and uses the double trouble of Elena and Eva as Femme Fatale sirens who attract Mónica anxiety to their underhanded dealing.

Wrapping tightly round each other,sexy Karin Schubert and Bárbara Rey give terrific performances as Elena and Eva,who are both given an icy vibe that gives their exchanges with Federico and Mónica a venomous snap. Bouncing off Jean Sorel delicately playing the ambiguity of Federico, "Nadiuska" sizzles as Mónica,whose ruptures in paranoia Nadiuska pushes Mónica deep into the Giallo black gloves.

Pretty effective Spanish psychological thriller/giallo

[Red-Barracuda · 7/10 · 12 October 2021]

This is a Spanish psychological thriller with some giallo elements. It's about a woman in the midst of a dangerous situation involving her unfaithful husband, his mistress, her girlfriend and a shady criminal newly released from prison. Secrets from the past infiltrate the present and people start turning up dead. As is often the way with gialli, it has a somewhat convoluted story with various rich jet setting characters doing various unpleasant things to each other. It has shades of Les Diaboliques and it stars giallo regular Jean Sorel. Needless to say, I liked it!

Men and Women Obsessed with Wealth and Power

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 8 November 2017]

This film essentially begins with a young man by the name of "Federico" (Jean Sorel) who is married to a wealthy woman named "Monica" (Nadiuska) but is having an affair with another woman by the name of "Eva" (Barbara Rey). As it so happens, Federico works with a female colleague named "Elena" (Karin Schubert) who is romantically involved with Eva and is using her affair with Federico to gain control of his company. To make matters even more complicated, a man named "Diego" (Damien Velasco) has just been released from prison and the first thing he does is to blackmail Federico by threatening to reveal his past criminal history before he met Monica and became successful. Eventually, one thing leads to another and Monica soon discovers that she has become an innocent victim in a scheme by certain people so obsessed with money and power that they are willing to do anything to acquire it. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film derives much of its entertainment value by the mystery it manages to contain until the very end. That being said, this film managed to keep my attention for the most part and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Most enjoyable

[christopher-underwood · 8/10 · 17 October 2013]

Most enjoyable, Spanish giallo type mystery thriller starring the very fine Jean Sorel, just a shame the Spanish dub removes his voice and that someone decided he should have dark hair. Maybe light hair was too effeminate on men at this time as the Spanish rushed out from under the fallen censorship of dead Franco. Certainly the ladies take every opportunity to pepper the proceedings with regular showers and changes of clothes. And despite all this I enjoyed it! Seriously, this is well worth seeking out, it runs less than 90 minutes and races along from start to finish barely allowing time for the subtitles to appear or the next character to speak. During this fascinating tale with at least two plot lines. Absolutely never a dull moment and although this is more psychological than gory, there are still plenty of killings to keep one guessing. Nadiuska is also worth a mention as the lovely and wealthy wife of Sorel who tends to glide about beautifully in the early stages and then go berserk towards the end. Really good fun.