Io Gilda
Italy 1995. Director: Andrew White (Andrea Bianchi)
Cast: Valentine Demy, Pamela Prati, Gerardo Amato
Aka: Dangerous Love

Io Gilda begins with a killer, all dressed in black leather, of course, interrupting a sex orgy and killing the female participant. Then the opening credits roll. A film by Andrew White. We know better, however, because we know that "Andrew White" reads Andrea Bianchi in Italian. This time the auteur behind Night of Terror offers the usual formula plot about two women trying to nail the sleazy film producer behind the death of their friend. This producer also seem to have a slight obsession for the classic image of Gilda as once played by Rita Hayworth in the classic movie with the same title. He also has an interest in erotic snuff movies. Perhaps it's not much of a plot to get excited over and 75 percent of it consist mainly of beautiful women dressing up in the latest fashion clothes or taking off the latest fashion clothes. Domestic sex star Pamela Prati plays a famous Gilda wannabe (though they're not particularly alike, except for the red hair) and the killer's next proposed victim, while Valentine Demy and Grace Vernon are the two avengers. For reasons unknown Demy is credited both as Demy and as Marisa Parra (her real name). The direction is nothing special but thanks to the better than usual photography the film look nonetheless a whole lot more interesting than, say, Wild Orchid part fortyeleven and a half. The Italians make these movies by the dozens each year, and they're the best at what they do. Have been for ages. So how come we so seldom get to see stuff like this in English these days?