Delirium

Delirium (1987)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Gloria (Serena Grandi) is a former model who struck gold making a magazine called Pussycat but it seems a secret admirer is about to cross the line. Pretty soon obnoxious phone calls are turning into someone murdering off the models that are working for Gloria.

Lamberto Bava was trying to not only make a film that looked and seemed like the work of his father but there's no question that there's a touch of Dario Argento as well. DELIRIUM isn't a completely successful movie but at the same time there are enough interesting and bloody murders mixed in with the sexploitation feel to where fans of the genre will find it to be worth a watch.

The film seems to not know if it wanted to be a naughty nude film or a giallo so we basically just get the best of both worlds. The film's plot certainly isn't the greatest or the most original but it's basically just here to show beautiful women being murdered and of course getting naked before hand. As a giallo it works to a point as the violence is certainly there as well as the actors and actresses ability to spit out blood as they are being wounded.

The film offers up a lot of nudity from the various women and that includes the lead Grandi. She's actually pretty good in the film has she's constantly showing off her body and in a rather hilarious way she does so at the end with the killer's request. You've also got George Eastman and Daria Nicolodi appearing in brief bits. Bava's direction is fine for this type of picture and he offers up some nice cinemaotgprahy and lighting.

DELIRIUM certainly isn't a masterpiece or even a good film but it's sleazy enough to where fans of the genre should enjoy it.

Gloria (gorgeous Serena Grandi) is a publisher of a girlie magazine called "Pussycat" that features nude photos of female models. But someone starts killing people around Gloria. And she becomes frightened for her own life. Whoever it is likes to deceive and trick others by playing mind games.

Characters in this Italian giallo are upscale, high-class people and the costumes and sets reflect that elegance. There's not as much suspense here as in other giallos. But one sequence that is suspenseful takes place inside a large clothing store full of mannequins. Having discovered a just-murdered person, the trapped Gloria searches for a way out, only to hear a weird voice from somewhere in the building: "Now it's your turn Gloria; you can't escape." About midway through the plot, there's a scene wherein the killer's motive is described through dialogue and visuals. But the clue is wonderfully subtle.

Cinematography gives us sharp, vibrant colors. But when someone is about to be murdered, we see that person from the killer's POV, at which time the sharp colors morph into color-saturated hues of blue or orange. And the intended victim wears an ugly mask, presumably to represent the ugliness of the killer's thought processes.

Near the end, at the reveal, the killer looks very different from the killer's previous persona of normality. A look of insanity, or madness, appears on that person's face, possibly the result of overacting. I was quite surprised as to who the killer was. Reviewing the plot, I determined that it was highly improbable, but I could not find any overt plot holes.

I could have wished for more suspense. And the acting leaves a lot to be desired. But "Delirium" is worth watching for the nudity, as well as for that clothing store sequence and surprise ending.

This has just enough of the giallo about it to be considered a late entry in the genre and whilst it is far from outstanding is perfectly watchable. It is bright, fast moving and colourful but at the same time rather brash with an uninvolving story and the usual crashing 80s score. Serena Grandi may not be the greatest actress in the world but she is outstanding in one (or is that two?!) respects. Another large busted performer, Sabrina plays herself and between them the two girls manage to display a considerable amount of flesh amidst the murderous shenanigans. George Eastman makes an appearance and it is regrettable that his part could not have been enlarged in place of some of the silliness going on around. Daria Nicolodi is a welcome participant and again enlarging her part might have been a good idea. Altogether there is too much time spent on the young guys and creating red herrings when the script is really not up to being taken seriously.

It's all about director Lamberto Bavas' style in this decent Giallo with a merely okay story but lots of sex and violence. Beautiful Serena Grandi (known as the "Dolly Parton of Italy") stars as Gioia (Gloria in the English language version), a former model who now owns and operates an adults only magazine. Her models begin to be slaughtered by a psycho admirer of hers, who arranges their dead bodies in front of a photo of her. Naturally, this leads her to believe that she will eventually become the killers' ultimate victim.

The lighting and camera work are exemplary. Certainly if Lambertos' father Mario had seen this one, he likely would have been proud. There is also some effective suspense at times. Simon Boswell supplies a score that alternates between pounding rock 'n' roll and more conventional arrangements. (One climactic chase scene would have done better to do away with the rock score.) The screenplay by Gianfranco Clerici & Daniele Stroppa does at least succeed in keeping fans of this genre interested in determining which of the possible suspects will eventually be unmasked as the real culprit. The most original touch is when things are shown from the killers' warped perspective, and it's too bad that we don't see a little more of this throughout.

The performances are adequate enough for the material. Nothing award worthy, but entertaining. Grandi is well supported by Daria Nicolodi, Vanni Corbellini, David Brandon, Karl Zinny (who'd acted for Lamberto in "Demons", and who here plays a horny, sleazy, surly, wheelchair bound kid), and the most welcome of all, Italian cult & exploitation icon George Eastman, playing Gioias' ex fiancée, an actor. There are several very attractive female cast members and numerous breast shots for those who are interested. Veteran sex symbol Capucine appears as Gioias' bitter business rival.

If you enjoy the genre or the films of Bava Jr., this should be an agreeable hour and a half exercise in style and sleaze.

Seven out of 10.

Lamberto Bava followed up his nonsensical splatterfests "Demons" and "Demons 2" with the far less sanguine but infinitely more coherent giallo thriller "Delirium" (1987), aka "Photos of Gioia." In this one, voluMptuous Serena Grandi plays Gloria, publisher of a men's nudie mag called "Pussycat" (a character possibly based on Christie Hefner, who had assumed the helm at "Playboy" five years earlier), whose models have lately started to be gruesomely done away with by a serial killer. Many suspects abound, including Gloria's personal assistant (played by giallo vet Daria Nicolodi), her gay photographer, the wheelchair-bound Peeping Tom across the way, her duplicitous ex-lover (George Eastman), and a lesbian publishing rival (portrayed by Capucine, in one of her last roles). As far as those murders go, they are a fairly tame lot (for the viewer, that is!), employing a pitchfork, bumblebees (the bee attacks in the 1967 British film "The Deadly Bees" were much more hideous) and the usual slashings. We get to see some very interesting POV shots through the killer's eyes, and regard the victims as having eyeball and bee heads! Yes, this killer is one sick puppy, and his/her motivations, when ultimately revealed, are pretty friggin' twisted. Don't even try to guess, is my advice; just sit back and enjoy Serena's toothsome presence (the gal looks great in a soaking-wet negligee!), several genuinely suspenseful sequences (the one with the killer stalking Gloria through a department store is particularly good), the sumptuous sets, and Bava's often-flashy directorial touches. "Delirium" is not a top-drawer giallo, but it is well put together (like its star!), entertaining and often gripping. Nice work, Lamberto; papa Mario would have been proud!