THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS WARDH

This event is part of Forbidden Worlds Film Festival: The Big Scream 2026. Visit **\www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk** **to see the full line-up as well as buy weekend and day festival passes. **

Original title: Lo strano vizio della signora Wardh | Dir. Sergio Martino | Spain/Italy | 100 mins | Cert. 18

“Full of gothic anxiety, lurid fantasy, sex maniacs, voyeurism, passionate butt-squeezing, ‘blood fetishes’, cobbled streets, gratuitous views and so much more.” - Joseph Swyer, Diabolique Magazine

From Sergio Martino, one of the Masters of Italian Giallo, comes this stunningly hypnotic film, frequently voted one of the best examples of the genre for its suspense, gruesome killings, surreal sexual imagery and the performance of the captivating Edwige Fenech, who would go on to become a global sex symbol and giallo scream queen following the film’s release.

Fenech stars as Mrs. Julie Wardh, the wife of the ambassador to Austria, however a spate of killings in Vienna seems inexplicately tied to her. Does she have a connection to the killer? Could it be her ex-lover? Her new beau? Or even her husband himself!?

Described as “every bit as thrilling as Argento’s best”, this is a rare opportunity to see this giallo masterpiece. 

Content warning: Contains scenes of sexual assault 

The film will be introduced by Dave Taylor, festival co-director

This film will be screened in the English dub.