The giallo subgenre has always been a bit hit or miss for me. I’ve been blown away by many, but at the same time, have been bored to tears by others. The early works of Dario Argento can’t be touched and are the basis for what I look for in a giallo film. I often find myself disappointed, but occasionally something comes along that’s refreshing. Nothing Underneath, aka Sotto Il Vestito Niente (1985), barely scrapes by; it’s entertaining enough but falls just a little bit short.
The film features Donald Pleasance, so it automatically garners a few extra points. It’s always a good day when he appears in something I wasn’t expecting. Thanks to Rustblade Label and Distribution, this little-seen film (outside of Italy) is now available on Blu-ray in multiple versions.
Yellowstone park ranger Bob Crane (Tom Schanley) shares a mysterious psychic bond with his sister Jessica (Nicola Perring), a successful fashion model living in Milan. When he experiences a terrifying vision of Jessica being attacked, Bob rushes to Italy—only to find she’s vanished without a trace. Local police commissioner Danesi (Donald Pleasence) dismisses Bob’s strange claims until another model is found murdered in the very hotel where Jessica disappeared.
Director Carlo Vanzina does a lot of things right with Nothing Underneath; unfortunately, he does a couple of things wrong. While the kills are inventive, the lack of blood softened the film for me. It may sound a bit shallow, but being used to movies from other Italian artists working in the genre, like Argento, Soavi, and Fulci, the over-the-top death scenes are a staple. It’s really what could have pushed it over into being considered a classic.
We all know that the dialogue in these films can be a bit cheesy, and this is no exception. Pleasance makes a cameo, lending a bit of class to it. It’s wonderfully shot, and the actual pacing works well. If Vanzina had put as much blood on the screen as he did naked bodies, this would be an entirely different conversation. It’s an entertaining entry in the genre, yet it doesn’t quite achieve what it should.
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The version of Nothing Underneath I reviewed was the standard Blu-ray release. It features interviews with Pino Donaggio and Enrico Vanzina, an in-depth analysis by Francesco Lomuscio, a trailer, and a photo gallery. There are multiple editions available, including DVD, a two-disc set that includes the soundtrack CD, and an ultra-limited deluxe bag with soundtrack, vinyl, postcards, panties, and more. There are only 100 copies available of that particular edition, so don’t put it off for long.
Nothing Underneath isn’t a great film. However, it has an engrossing story, a solid cast, a wonderful Pino Donaggio score, and stunning cinematography. It’s an above-average film that falls short in a few areas, but it’s certainly worth adding to the collection.
Check out the original trailer on YouTube.
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