THE FISH WITH THE EYES OF GOLD

Ricardo Vazquez and Wal Davis

THE FISH WITH THE EYES OF GOLD (aka El pez de los ojos de oro/1974). Director: Pedro L. Ramirez.

In Girona, Spain Zachary (Ricardo Vazquez) witnesses the murder of a woman on a beach by an assailant wearing a scuba outfit. Coincidentally his friend, Derek (Wal Davis), spends the night with a woman who picks him up and when he awakens finds her butchered in the bed. The Inspector (Barta Barri) is suspicious of Derek, who maintains his innocence. Meanwhile the murders continue, and Derek comes to suspect Marco (Rex Martin), a gigolo who is having an affair with Zarchary's wife, Virginia (Norma Kastel). Derek also begins a relationship with Marina (Ada Tauler), whose grumpy father runs an aquarium. While Derek and Zachary are on their way to confront Marco, the brakes on their car fail ... someone is out to keep them from finding out who the killer is. It all seems to tie in with a piece of jewelry shaped like a bizarre fish ... 

Ada Tauler as Marina

The Fish with the Eyes of Gold is a pitiful attempt to come up with a twisty, convoluted, Dario Argento-type shocker along the lines of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Forget it! -- this dull movie has a silly and confusing plot line, a poor musical score, virtually no suspense or style, and if you keep watching it's only because you want to learn who the killer is and what his or her motive might be. It's not worth waiting around for. One murder -chase sequence is presented in slow-motion, which makes it even less exciting. One victim is stabbed in the shower, a scene that does not compare favorably with Psycho. 

Verdict: Very poor Spanish giallo. *1/2.