director: Massimo
Franciosa
starring: Udo Kier ˇ Laura Belli ˇ Edda di Benedetto ˇ
Eva Thulin ˇ Susanne von Sass ˇ Gaspare Zola
Udo
Kier is Luca, a wealthy [but decadent] recluse who presides over his
own island and the mansion built upon it. The film opens as he kills
his domineering mistress and dumps her body down a garbage chute into
the shark-infested ocean. Onto this scene comes a group of young people
(4 females and two men) who had been on a sea "adventure"
until their boat ran dry of fuel. They brashly invade Luca's space,
demanding food, drink and a place to crash. Luca is unimpressed with
the lot and chooses to ignore the privileged young people,
even when the girls throw themselves sexually his direction. Eventually,
the two boys leave the island after confiscating some petrol but the
four girls decide to stay. Cultural conflicts ensue. Luca begins toying
with the girls - sexually, emotionally and physically - until they enter
a delusional state that can only end badly. Very badly.
Dario
Argento wrote this script with Barbara Alberti (author of numerous thrillers
including HOTEL
FEAR). He developed this project just prior to his directorial
debut, "Bird with Crystal Plumage" in 1970 [both this film
and BIRD were scored by Ennio Morricone]. Filmmaker
Massimo Franciosa directed only a handful of movies; he was better known
as a novelist and scriptwriter who often worked with Pasquale Festa
Campanile (AUTOSTOP
ROSSO SANGUE: HITCHHIKE) and Dino Risi (ANIMA
PERSA: LOST SOUL). Mr Franciosa died in March 1998 at age 73.
This
was one of the first films for actor Udo Kier who has made 225+ movies
between 1969-2016. He is best known for the starring roles in ANDY
WARHOL'S FRANKENSTEIN (Flesh
for Frankenstein) and ANDY
WARHOL'S DRACULA (Blood
For Dracula). During his incredible career, Udo Kier has managed
to portray every major film monster/villain including Jack the Ripper,
Frankenstein, Dr Jeckyll, Witchunter General, Dracula, the Werewolf
and Adolf Hitler (twice).
An
Italian production with English subtitles; fullscreen format, totally
uncut version (91 min.), DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC, playable on
any American machine. Extras include trailers.
Violence/Nudity/Sexual
Brutality/Drugs:
For
Adult Audiences
