IL LEGAME/ THE BINDING
Italy, 2020, 93 minutes, Colour.
Riccardo Scarmacio, Mia Maestro, Giulia Patrignani, Mariella Lo Sardo, Federica Rossellini, Raffaella D' Avella.
Directed by Domenico Emmanuelle De Feudis.
The Binding is a contemporary horror film, capitalising on the atmosphere of southern Italy, its people, its traditions, superstitions. It is also something of a throwback to the Italian thrillers of the 1970s and 80s, the work of such directors as Dario Argento, Mario Bava.
In many ways, the narrative is fairly straightforward although there is a prologue where a woman screams, and group are participating in a ritual, the cutting of the woman’s back, her blood, and her looking into the mirror and the mirror cracking. This will be explained later in the film.
Riccardo Scarmachio is Francesco, bringing his fiancee Emma, Mia Maestro, with her young daughter, Sofia, Giulia Patrignani, to his ancestral home and to meet his mother. Needless to say, she appears somewhat sinister as does her close friend who lives in the house. On the one hand, the interior of the house is dark with a creepy atmosphere. On the other hand, while there is a cheerful meal outside, some of the action takes place in the woods, ancient trees, some trees dug up.
The house is cursed and the curse falls on the daughter, bitten by a tarantula, treated with potions, caught up in the atmosphere of the old trees, the family dog, becoming worse, her mother trying to escape with her but the car crashing.
The last part of the film is the ritual, Sofia and her being the victim, Emma becoming more involved, believing in the superstitions, participating in the rituals – and some healing when the blood flowing from Sofia on the floor combines with that of the blood of her mother. As with this kind of film, when it seems to be a resolution, there is a final growl from the ghost and a shudder – the curse continues.
1. An Italian horror story? Curse story? Southern Italy? Old traditions and superstitions?
2. The opening, the comments about southern Italy and its customs? The Binding?
3. The drive through the countryside, the landscapes, the valley and cliffs? The woods, the mansion? The grounds, the upturned trees, the old trees? The interiors of the mansion, vast rooms, bedrooms, corridors? The musical score?
4. The credibility of the plot? The Italian audiences? World audiences? The Italian perspective on southern Italy and its traditions and people?
5. The prologue, the woman screaming, the group, the demands, the knife and slash, the cracked mirror? Later returning to this sequence? The victim? Her vengeance? The curse, on Sofia?
6. The group, Francesco, bringing Emma and Sofia to meet his mother? His memories of the past? His mother bringing him up? Her friend’s presence in the house? The later revelation of his relationship with Ada, the curse, the pregnancy, the rituals? The repercussions?
7. The creation of the eerie atmosphere? The house, the interiors? The behaviour of the mother, of her friend? The touches of the sinister? The contrast with the group gathering for the meal, the announcement of the wedding, everybody friendly?
8. Emma, her love for Francesco, her engineering work? Her love for Sofia? Protective? Anticipating the wedding? Her personality? The events with Sofia, running into the woods, chasing the dog, erratic behaviour? During the night? Becoming more apprehensive, the threats of the mother, Francesco and his comments? The tarantula bite, the treatment, going to the doctor, reassurance? Sofia, the dog, chasing it into the woods, the wreath on the tree? The effect of the bite on her, with Francesco’s mother, her getting worse? Emma getting out of the car, driving away, the crash?
9. Emma, her rational approach, the care for her daughter, gradually drawn into the atmosphere, the escape, the car crash? Francesco in the background? Her gradually being persuaded by the mother, belief, participating in the rituals?
10. The rituals, the curse on Sofia, the flashback to the past and Ada? Sofia and the scratches on her arm, the bleeding? The effect of the ghost of Ada? Her presence, ever more sinister, the draining of Sofia’s blood, on the floor, Emma, the scissors, stabbing herself? The mother and her gradual collapse?
11. Sofia’s blood and meeting her mother’s? The mother reviving? Ada’s ghost and the attack, Emma struggling with her, stabbing her with the scissors? The revival? Hopes for the future and peace?
12. The ending, Ada’s unrest, a continuation…?
