Strangler vs. Strangler

A Yugoslav film made in 1984, directed by Slobodan Šijan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Nebojša Pajkić.

It could be described as a comedy of terror and horror – the first film of its kind in our country, and in a way, the only one. Slobodan Šijan, the director, stated that after this film, some “doors were closed” for him, with the assessment that he had “gone too far.”

The story takes place in Belgrade, where a serial killer – the strangler – appears, whose victims are girls who don’t like carnations. Police inspector Ognjen Strahinjić tries to solve the case, but the situation is further complicated by the young singer Spiridon Kopicl, who seems to be telepathically connected to the strangler, and his crush, journalist Sofija Mackic, who unintentionally gives the whole story unwanted publicity…

For older generations, the film was occasionally extremely funny, while younger viewers watched with horror as Pera Mitic killed his victims with the motto “If you don’t like carnations, you shouldn’t live.”

Tasko Nacic delivered a masterful performance, without whom this film simply wouldn’t be the same, and alongside him, the roles are played by the brilliant Nikola Simic, Srđan Saper, Rahela Ferari, Sonja Savic, Zika Milenkovic, Branislav Zeremski, Pavle Mincic…