From xploitedcinema.com's plot synopsis:

From exciting new Italian director Lorenzo Bianchini (RADICE QUADRATA DI TRE) comes another fine movie that shows the he is not a one-hit wonder.

A journalist is called by a university professor who claims to have discovered the find of the century. During the interview the professor receives a visitor and instructs the journalist to hide in the house. After a period of time the journalist believes his interviewee has vanished. He begins a quest to find out, from the little facts he was given, what the professor's startling discovery was and in doing so he will be led on a journey into man's darkest fears.

DVD FEATURES
Widescreen Version
Friulian and Italian Audio
Optional English and Italian subtitles
Interview with Dardano Sacchetti (Italian with English subtitles)
Making of (Italian with English subtitles)
"Paura Dentro" - Lorenzo Bianchini short film (1997)
Trailer


Sounds interesting...

Appears to be straight-to-video. Italian database cinematografo.it lists only the director, no cast at all, though it has a full accounting of locations used ("GIRATO IN FRIULI TRA VILLA MANIN AL FORTE DI OSOPPO, AQUILEIA, SANTA MARGHERITA DEL GRUAGNO E UDINE.")

The brief blurb adds plot details: the professor and journalist are on the trail of a secret dating back to the Inquisition which may have killed people over the years. The professor thinks he's found the answer thanks to a musty document, three old photos, and what a fresco hides beneath its restored surface. The journalist isn't convinced by the prof.'s conclusions however, and undertakes his own investigation

Intriguing

Thanks, James.

Yes, the synopsis has an agreeable Umberto Eco-like sound to it...but its straight-to-video status makes me inclined to believe it will lean more towards the Dan Brown end of the spectrum (a wavelength definitely effluent-brown in hue).

Still, thanks for the additional info.

Lorenzo Bianchini is certainly one of the most exciting new director's out of Italy in sometime. He's film's are completely independantly financed and are very stylish. Sadly they are largely unnoticed, but are starting to get some exposure in due part to Dardano Sacchetti who was pointed in his directing by someone over at Nocturne. Anyhow, I have seen both RADICE QUADRATA DI TRE and CUSTODES BESTIAE and can safely say he will being making a huge splash in the Italy market if not the international very soon.

RADICE QUADRATA DI TRE

Ihave viewed the CUSTODES BESTIAE DVD as well and can say it's well worth the money as for one, it'll probably be the only option you'll have for a long time. Dardano Sacchetti's interview sees him complete praise Bianchini a millions times. For me Bianchini's style is unique but he does extract several aspects from classic directors such as Argento, Fulci and even Mario Bava at times..

Yes, his only two film releases are straight to video. He has directed two other films and two or three short films, two of which are attached to each of his DVDS.

Here are my humble thoughts on the CUSTODES BESTIAE disc and film!

CUSTODES BESTIAE