Miscellaneous - Lizard in a Woman's Skin

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 1 / 6 / 2010

intro

Anthony Strutt examines 1971 Italian horror film, 'Lizard in a Woman's Skin', which has just been restored on DVD, and features a psychedelic soundtrack from Ennio Morricone

'Lizard in a Woman's Skin' which was directed by Italian filmmaker Lucio Fulci was originally released in 1971 and has been beautifully remastered on DVD with cut footage which was butchered in its United States and British version restored in its right full place. It stars Stanley Baker as a detective called in to investigate a savage murder case. Fulci was influenced by Dario Argento's 1969 debut film, 'The Bird with the Crystal Plummage' and this is a similarly psychedelically-toned film, deep in colour and full of atmosphere, much of which is created by the film's eerie soundtrack by legendary composer Ennio Morricone and which adds much depth to it, The film tells of the lesbian dreams and nightmares of Carol(Florinda Bolkan), the wife of a rich business man and the daughter of a politician, which are caused by the stripper next door having drug parties. In her dreams she kills her. When the stripper is brutally murdered, we are left guessing whether Carol is guilty or innocent of the crime. This film made history as one of the scenes in which dogs are horribly experimented on was so real the Fulci was taken to court to prove it was just special effects. It is very trippy, sexy and haunting if violent film. A great one hour and 37 minutes of passing the time.