Seven Murders for Scotland Yard

Seven Murders for Scotland Yard (1972) follows a string of violent killings in London where sex workers are found murdered in ways that recall the historical Jack the Ripper crimes. A down-and-out former acrobat becomes the prime suspect when his own wife is among the victims and circumstantial evidence piles up against him, prompting both the police and the fugitive himself to search for the true killer. As Scotland Yard’s investigation unfolds, hidden motives and dark secrets emerge in this gritty mystery thriller from the European giallo tradition.

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  7 Murders for Scotland Yard is Paul Naschy’s first “proper” foray [into the giallo], though his earlier film Agonizando en el crimen contained elements of the genre, as well. … Naschy would go on to write two more giallo-style thrillers: Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll and A Dragonfly for Each Corpse. … [José Luis Madrid]’s approach to directing is extremely pedestrian and he seldom manages to create the sort of memorable set pieces which distinguish the best of Naschy’s horror films for, say, León Klimovsky or Carlos Aured. Naschy’s script is not entirely without interest, but the lack of dynamic staging and some truly uninspiring performances definitely undermine his efforts. … 7 Murders for Scotland Yard is a frustrating movie. It has the elements of a good lurid thriller, yet it never catches fire.