This solid and enjoyable if unremarkable Giallo from director Antonio Margheriti has quite the titillating title, but it's a bit of a misnomer. People hungry for something really sleazy will be sorely disappointed. Only one person dies while naked, and that's right at the beginning. Also, some viewers won't appreciate the lack of explicit gore and nudity.
At least "Naked You Die" has a decent story. It's fairly uncomplicated, and easy to follow, although it is also, in the end, pretty predictable. It benefits from a typically lovely and engaging cast of ladies. Another bonus is the presence of familiar faces Mark Damon ("House of Usher" 1960) and Michael Rennie ("The Day the Earth Stood Still" 1951). And fans of Italian cinema will be pleased to have Luciano Pigozzi, a.k.a. Alan Collins, a.k.a. "The Italian Peter Lorre", on hand as a creepy gardener.
A mysterious psycho kills a woman, and has her body sent to the distant St. Hilda's School for Girls. Soon, they'll be running amok at this place, and the girls will live in terror until the police (led by Mr. Rennie) turn up.
All things considered, this is an entertaining thriller, with very nice widescreen photography by Fausto Zuccoli. The music by Carlo Savina is sometimes good, but at other times it's hilariously inappropriate, sounding more like something you'd hear in a James Bond adventure. The dialogue can be very silly on occasion. Performances are good, with Sally Smith a standout as Jill. Jill is an aspiring novelist with an overactive imagination, a perfect character for such a story. Some viewers may find her annoying, but this viewer thought that she was charming. Eleonora Brown is a fine heroine, Damon is likable, and Rennie has a very calming presence that adds a great deal to this film.
As long as people are aware ahead of time not to let the title get their hopes up, they can have a good time with this one.
Seven out of 10.
At least "Naked You Die" has a decent story. It's fairly uncomplicated, and easy to follow, although it is also, in the end, pretty predictable. It benefits from a typically lovely and engaging cast of ladies. Another bonus is the presence of familiar faces Mark Damon ("House of Usher" 1960) and Michael Rennie ("The Day the Earth Stood Still" 1951). And fans of Italian cinema will be pleased to have Luciano Pigozzi, a.k.a. Alan Collins, a.k.a. "The Italian Peter Lorre", on hand as a creepy gardener.
A mysterious psycho kills a woman, and has her body sent to the distant St. Hilda's School for Girls. Soon, they'll be running amok at this place, and the girls will live in terror until the police (led by Mr. Rennie) turn up.
All things considered, this is an entertaining thriller, with very nice widescreen photography by Fausto Zuccoli. The music by Carlo Savina is sometimes good, but at other times it's hilariously inappropriate, sounding more like something you'd hear in a James Bond adventure. The dialogue can be very silly on occasion. Performances are good, with Sally Smith a standout as Jill. Jill is an aspiring novelist with an overactive imagination, a perfect character for such a story. Some viewers may find her annoying, but this viewer thought that she was charming. Eleonora Brown is a fine heroine, Damon is likable, and Rennie has a very calming presence that adds a great deal to this film.
As long as people are aware ahead of time not to let the title get their hopes up, they can have a good time with this one.
Seven out of 10.