A desk by the toilet, a serial killer’s letters, and press ethics gone sideways in 1970s Italy.
THE FIEND
A low rank journalist at Tribuna Sera newspaper receives a letter one day. His correspondence contains a serial killer's letters, which he exploits.
Quick Answer
The Fiend is a 1977 Italian comedy, mystery, and thriller film directed by Luigi Zampa about a low-rank journalist who exploits letters from a serial killer to boost newspaper circulation.
Programmer's Pick
Where else will you find a journalist with a desk by the toilet turning serial killer mail into career gold? Zampa skewers media ethics with a wink, and the giallo spoof flavor is pure 1970s Italian mischief.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The Fiend playfully riffs on the giallo genre, mixing murder mystery with irreverent Italian comedy.
A sharp skewering of contemporary journalism and publicity, with a journalist exploiting a killer’s letters for fame.
Set against the backdrop of 1970s Italy with top-rank technicians and a score by Morricone, giving it authentic period texture.
Johnny Dorelli anchors the film with a performance that balances bad taste comedy and noir tension.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Journalist receives killer’s letters
Serial killer operating in the city
Boosts newspaper circulation, escalates public fear
1970s Italy; Tribuna Sera newspaper
Questions from the Vault
Who directed The Fiend? +
The Fiend was directed by Luigi Zampa.
How long is The Fiend? +
The Fiend has a runtime of 94 minutes.
What genre is The Fiend? +
The Fiend is a comedy, mystery, and thriller.
Where can I watch The Fiend? +
The Fiend is available to stream on SassyFlix.
How does the journalist exploit the serial killer's letters? +
He uses the letters as sensational content, dramatically increasing the newspaper’s circulation while neglecting to investigate their source.
