L'etrusco Uccide Ancora (aka The Dead Are Alive) (1972)

Set in Italy, an archaeologist and recovering alcoholic (Alex Cord) discovers an ancient Etruscan tomb that appear to be dedicated to an Etruscan death god. When a series of brutal murders occur shortly thereafter, could it be the return of the death god? Or a serial killer copycat? Since the murderer puts red high heels on his female victims after he kills them, I'd guess the latter. Based on the novel by Bryan Edgar Wallace and directed by Armando Crispino. This Italian-German production uses three English speaking actors in the lead roles (in addition to Cord, there's Samantha Eggar and John Marley) with Italian and German actors filling out the rest of the cast. As a giallo, it lacks atmosphere and tension and most importantly, style. The cheesy underscore by Riz Ortolani is a liability and one wonders what Ennio Morricone might have done with it. The handsome Italian countryside locations (Spoleto, Umbria and Perugia) are a bonus. The identity of the killer did take me by surprise, I'll give it that. With Enzo Tarascio, Carlo De Mejo, Horst Frank and Nadja Tiller.