Rating: **
Review Date: 7/29/24
Cast: Edwige Fenech, Nino Castelnuovo, Femi Benussi, Solvi Stubing,
Amanda, Erna Schurer
A year after a botched illegal abortion left a fashion model dead, people at the Albatross Modeling Agency are being brutally murdered by a killer wearing black leather and wielding a switchblade knife. Fashion photographer Carlo (Nino Castelnuovo) and his adorable and adoring assistant Magda (Edwige Fenech) realize they may be on the killer's list and desperately try to figure out who it is before everyone at the agency is knocked off. Naturally, they don't want the police involved for various reasons.
Not surprisingly, it's a sadistic and misogynistic sexploitation film, and one of the sleaziest giallo thrillers I've seen. The modeling world is portrayed as exceedingly trashy and corrupt, and Carlo is a truly detestable, unscrupulous, and sadistic person. He's the kind of character who gives photography and photographers a bad name. The head of the agency is a cruel bisexual bitch who coerces the models into having sexual affairs, while her impotent husband can only get it on with a blow-up doll. The models have their own problems and aren't particularly bright or likable, but their only job in the movie is to get naked and scream. The only bright spot in this whole sordid production is Edwige Fenech. She's beautiful, charming, and has a stunning body. She's also the only character in the film who has a decent head on her shoulders and isn't a complete jerk. Her initial nude scene caught me completely by surprise and is easily the highlight of the film. Unfortunately, Carlo is a total asshole who treats her like shit, and the director thought it would be funny to end the movie on a freeze frame of her being sodomized. Ha-ha. That's the kind of sick mentality that runs throughout the entire film.
Production-wise, it's an average picture that's competently shot and firmly in the giallo mould. Shockingly bright red blood flows freely, and the killer is fond of mutilating their victims. The film's story doesn't make much sense and the logic is often baffling, but the narrative does a good job of setting up and misdirecting the viewer's attention. But let's be honest - people aren't watching this movie for the story. They're watching it for its sex, nudity, and violence towards women. Given the hype I'd read about it, I found it sorely disappointing, and relegate it to slasher fans only.