The Goldsmith (2023) by Vincenzo Ricchiuto

Director: Vincenzo Ricchiuto

Year: 2023

Country: Italy

Alternate Titles: L’orafo

Genre: Home Invasion

Plot:

Looking for an easy score, a group of thugs decides to break into the house of an elderly couple on the outskirts of town looking for a series of jewels or other valuables inside, but when they realize the couple might be more deranged than they expected must try to prevent their diabolical plans.

Review:

Overall, this was a pretty solid genre effort. One of the better elements here is the means through which the film manages to utilize the highly underwhelming ploy of a home invasion. The familiar setup of a group of criminals looking to take advantage of the elderly couple that lives there only to find themselves subject to far more danger and terror than they're prepared for is the secondary setup for the genre that leaves the film with a big hill to overcome. As the idea for this one gets exposed nicely enough so that the film can explore an intriguing twist where the couple holds them hostage for their own means toying with them to reveal several secrets they hold, this setup gradually sets the stage for some cruel and graphic twists to come about giving this one some great gore to go with everything as it comes off quite nicely.

However, that highlights a major issue here in that the film really only picks up once it's revealed what their deranged hobby really is. Far too much of the middle of the film focuses on the reveals that come about between the group as the idea of them already being scumbags was established so the need to keep harping on it by getting these secrets revealed and announced at this point doesn't do anything special for them. That also extends the running time with very little of any interest during this period where it consists of nothing more than seeing them stuck in a single room unable to escape and talking to a figure in another room over a monitor system that isn't all that interesting or exciting. It's all pretty big issues with this one and is enough to lower this one on the whole.

Overview: ***/5

Generally worthwhile if still hampered by some big issues, there’s still a lot to like with this home invasion effort to be a worthwhile effort. Those who are fans of this style or are intrigued by this one would do well with this one while those who aren’t a fan of these factors should heed caution with this one.