" The scheming Ravenhurst privately noted to his henchman Sir Locksley (Michael Pate) about the true talent of Giacomo and his objective - to assassinate the King:In addition to his brilliance as an entertainer, the jester Giacomo also happens to be the world""s most skillful, devious, and subtle master of the art of assassination.(See Filmsite""s extensive feature on the history ofZombie Films.) Other influential films included director Herk Harvey""sCarnival of Souls (1962)and Hitchcock""sThe Birds (1968)." He leans on the pig corral and looks toward the departing figure on the horizon, contemplating the easy bounty money for the betterment of his kids.Scorsese""s fourth film, combining elements offilm noir, the western, horror and urban melodrama film genres.It can also be seen as a powerful, allegorical indictment of the Hollywood blacklist, created during the climate of suspicion and fear of the 1950s McCarthy era.