Nothing Underneath

I recently viewed the Italian giallo 🇮🇹 Nothing Underneath (1985) on Tubi. The plot revolves around a Wyoming park ranger whose model twin sister in Milan faces an unknown tragedy. Driven by a sense of unease, he flies to Italy to find her, uncovering a ruthless man exploiting models. Directed by Carlo Vanzina (The Gamble), the film features Donald Pleasence (Halloween), Tom Schanley (Get the Gringo), Renee Simonsen, Anna Galiena (Black Angel), and Bruce McGuire (From Beyond). Released towards the end of the giallo era, the film captures the essence of 80s models through their fun lifestyles, hairstyles, attire, and makeup. It embraces classic giallo elements, blending psychological and slasher genres. While the kill scenes are generally average, there's a standout backstab moment that caught me off guard. The ending reveal is good, albeit somewhat abrupt. In summary, Nothing Underneath is a worthwhile 80s giallo, not exceptional but boasting redeeming elements. I'd give it a 5.5-6/10 and recommend watching it at least once.

By the mid '80s the Italian film industry that churned out export-friendly genre flicks was showing signs of terminal decline. Heady days of Mario Bava, Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci classics were on the way out and the iconic 'giallo' thrillers had virtually disappeared, so this late entry plays almost like a TV thriller -- which, ironically, is what the country's industry settled into making by the '90s. Essentially a knowing plunder of Brian De Palma's psychosexual best (mostly Dressed to Kill and Body Double -- there's even a variant of Pino Donnagio's score, a 'panty thief' and THAT drill scene!), Nothing Underneath's well shot, paced and... not very good. A black-gloved, dressmaking scissor-wielding slasher meets (usually coked-up and half-naked) Milan fashion models with the inevitable mayhem. We even get a The Fury-style telepathic twin and some very mainstream music (including the odd choice of a song from the ABBA/Tim Rice 'Chess' musical at a runway show -- a language barrier issue?). If that sounds like an instant must-see, why isn't it? Because the title's right: there's just Nothing Underneath. Apart from one good oh-so-'80s chase sequence through Milan's backstreets that manages a Marilyn Monroe homage mid-way through, it's just so... empty. Thrills never come, the acting's bland and it's devoid of any semblance of tension. The ending -- the whole thing -- feels as insipid as a typical TV movie (it isn't one) and the usually-reliable Donald Pleasance really phones his part in. A non-thrilling thriller reminiscent of Mario Bava's son's films or Dario Argento's 21st century misfires (think Delirium and 2009's Giallo) -- it's too little, too late. If you're a completist you'll probably ignore this and seek it out, as I did (having seen everything else) -- but I doubt many will rewatch it. Remade as an Italy-only TV movie in 2011 by the same director (The Last Fashion Show, currently unavailable in English language). 1988's Too Beautiful to Die is a loosely-related companion-piece.

I'd seen the movie well over a decade ago, perhaps on VHS, and had at that time rated it a 4/10 but not reviewed it. Having now rewatched it online via Fandor's good quality 94 minute print, I was astonished to find that not a single scene was even slightly familiar but nonetheless think the rating I gave it still sounds about right. It's hard to understand how the movie could have been such a hit in Italy or why it generated two (thematic) sequels. The Yellowstone National Park is underutilized as a location in the early part of the movie. Some strange visions and feelings are misleading. Much of the movie drags. Donald Pleasence doesn't have much to do. That said, a scene set at a Wendy's that has a peculiar little salad bar island, and the sight of Pleasence eating plain, apparently sauceless, spaghetti that he evidently was served there(?!) was somewhat amusing. I guess maybe Pleasence wanted to be able to engage in the action of eating but not in a way that would cause him to have to eat too much over multiple takes or cause continuity problems. Credit for a rather bizarre ending, though!

source: Nothing Underneath

April 2021 Top notch 80s giallo, featuring Donald Pleasence, and apart from a couple others, i have to say the cast is largely unknown. This film probably has the oddest opening to a giallo you will ever see, but it is very good indeed, i have watched it loads and will continue to do so. Set in the world of fashion in Milan, which is a perfect fit for a giallo. Watch it. 10 out of 10.

I really like 1988's Too Beautiful to Die, a movie that was sold as a sequel to this movie. Perhaps it's better that I watched that first, because while I like the premise of this movie, the execution leaves something to be desired. That's a shame, because it really sets up something great. A serial killer roams the city of Milan, dispatching gorgeous models with the flash of his scissors. Meanwhile, Yellowstone Park ranger Bob Crane senses that his sister needs him, so he flies across the world to interact with the rich and famous. Can he save her? Will he be targeted by the killer? Will Donald Pleasence ever say no to a movie? As I set up before, this didn't live up to my hopes. The mid-80's are a wasteland for giallo, with so many movies being set in the fashion industry yet having no real feel for the fashion or any pretension to art.

After slogging through various 80s Italian films this one comes as a pleasant surprise. My expectations were low going in as I didn't know most of the cast and this was Donald Pleasance's phoning it in for a paycheck Era, but it was enjoyable. The performances are fine, the soundtrack is good, the filmmaking is competent. Does the story get a tad predictable? Sure, but it's fun so I give it a 7.6/10.

Sotto Il Vestito Niente or Nothing Underneath is one of those releases that never had an official uncut release on DVD. Even the US DVD clocks in at 90 minutes. To find it uncut you will have to search the Japanese VHS release on the obscure 'Suncrown' label. It clocks in at 94 minutes and 14 seconds. 4 minutes more then all DVD releases worldwide. The VHS is very hard to find but still is it all worth searching? If you are a giallo buff you will need this version and also the Donald Pleasance fans should search for it. He has a weird Italian accent. You can easily spot the extra 4 minutes throughout this flick, they have more drops and scratches. It's indeed a pure giallo with the black gloves and scissors but it's low on red stuff. Don't expect to see a Argento styled giallo. The story is also rather simple. When Bob Crane (Tom Schanley) hears that his sister is in danger he immediately goes to Milan, Italy to find Jessica (Nicola Perring). Of course nobody believes Bob and detective Danesi (Pleasance) doesn't want to help until other models do disappear. Together they go hunt the maniacal killer as it's Danesi's last case. When the killings happen it's all done off-camera except with the brown girl. And that doesn't help the giallo to become a classic. But it's full of gratuitous nudity and Pleasance with his worth voice is worth watching. A late entry in the giallo genre and not that good for the red stuff but the story flows smoothly, somehow you keep watching. Gore 0/5 Nudity 2,5/5 Effects 1/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

When it comes to horror cinema, I love the Italian Giallo and I love the 80's, but a combination of both usually isn't worth the effort. The Giallo is irreversibly linked to the 70's and unfortunately only a handful of gratifying titles came out during the 80's, mostly either directed by Dario Argento ("Tenebre", "Opera") or Lamberto Bava ("Midnight Ripper", "Delirium"). Therefore it was an extra pleasant surprise to discover that "Nothing Underneath", directed by the relatively unknown Carlo Vanzina, is an overlooked gem in the sub genre. The scenario often doesn't make a lick of sense and the plot twists are implausible and absurd, but that doesn't matter and actually even makes it cooler in terms of Giallo-cinema. The setting, premise and character drawings are as rudimentary as it gets in this type of film. In the glossy and competitive fashion business of Milan, there's a crazed psychopath killing models with a gigantic pair of shiny scissors. The fatigue old police commissioner, who's only two weeks away from his retirement, doesn't have a clue where to begin his investigation, but luckily he receives the help of a young Wyoming park ranger. For you see, the kid witnessed the attack against his twin sister through a telepathic connection between them, and now he traveled to Milan to look for her. Whilst he's messing around with gorgeous models, the killer cheerfully continues to cut up more beauty queens. Although entirely irrelevant to the plot, this film at least has a title that actually makes sense. Gialli often have lovely sounding but nonsensical titles, but this one is totally accurate as several of these models are wearing nothing underneath their dresses and mini-skirts. In spite of the nudity and a remarkably stylish presentation, the first half hour is rather slow-paced and on the verge of boring. "Nothing Underneath" is then luckily rescued by a few highly inventive and delightfully far-fetched plot twists; making the rest of the film satisfyingly exciting and even suspenseful. The last ten minutes are downright fantastic and almost on par with the quality level of the 80's films by the aforementioned directors Argento and Bava. As said already, director Carlo Vanzina even manages to demonstrate style and flair, like through the use slow-motion images and colorful fashion show glimpses. The murders, on the other hand, are a bit disappointing, as there should have been more of them and especially bloodier. There's one impressively nasty kill involving a backstabbing, but the concept offered so much more opportunities to depict gore and bloodshed. The screenplay greedily processes all the typical Italian fashion industry clichés and stereotypes into the film, including the voyeuristic hotel clerks, the wild drug parties and the harsh competition between the women. The soundtrack contains some wondrous 80's tunes like "One Night in Bangkok", which always puts a smile on my face. Donald Pleasance stars as the aging commissioner who desperately – but in vain - tries to look and sound Italian. Pleasance's role isn't that important, but he definitely brings some name fame to the overlooked production. The sequel, entitled "Too Beautiful To Die" is a pretty worthwhile film as well. The stories of both films have no plot aspects or characters in common but are nevertheless considered sequels because they were both released in the second half of the 80's and take place in the Italian fashion universe.

I went into this film with my expectations set to 'low' as most of the best Giallo's were made during the seventies, and the majority of reviews that I've read on this film haven't exactly been full of praise; but to my delight, Nothing Underneath is actually a surprisingly good thriller! The plot, direction and acting are all rather mundane; but the film is elevated by a number of good twists, and a great sense of style emanating from both the modelling theme and the good ideas that have gone into putting the plot together. The film, naturally, focuses on murder; and we've got familiar Giallo elements such as a killer wielding a certain implement (in this case, scissors) and a plot deep enough for it to never completely make sense. The film's story centres on Bob Crane; a young man that experiences a vision of his twin sister's murder. His sister is a model in Milan, and after the premonition; he travels to Italy where he contacts Commissioner Danesi, who naturally doesn't believe him; until another dead model turns up, and then he has a case... This film has a lot of ideas entwined within the plot, but not all of them are original. The fact that it's the Commissioner's last case is far too clichéd, while the idea of fashion models being brutalised is a common Giallo theme. However, the idea of a 'psychic link' between twins hasn't been seen in Giallo often, and even though it's not very well explored; it does provide an interesting basis for the story. One thing that is important to many Giallo fans (yours truly included) is stylish and bloody murders, and unfortunately this film doesn't have a great deal of them. Scissors are a prime weapon for a nasty murder; but not much blood is shown, and there is only one real nasty scene in the movie; which involves a young woman being stabbed in the back. The cast only contains one real name, belonging to Donald Pleasance. Pleasance is OK in his role, but he fails miserably at trying to be Italian. It all boils down to a well done exciting climax that sees the culprit revealed, along with a huge drill! Overall, Nothing Underneath is not exactly a prime slice of Giallo, and I am perhaps overrating it a little; but it's a well done film with a lot of plus points, and I'd recommend it to Giallo fans.