Pensione Paura (1978)

A sombre concoction of sleaze and repressed sexuality from Francesco Barilli, the director of The Perfume of the Lady in Black.

Pensione Paura, or The Rape of Senorita Julia for the ones who want their film titles free of subtlety, takes place in Italy anno 1945. Rosa, an adolescent, helps her Mother run the family hotel while waiting for her father to return from the war. There's a snag, though: Each and all of the male hotel guests are pushy, perverted sleazebags. Not a single moment passes without one of them trying to grope and fondle Rosa, be it on the beach, in the kitchen, in the hallway, in the dining room or in her bedroom.


Leonora Fani as Rosa.


"Mmm, thighs!"

After the mysterious death of Marta, her mother, she is raped by one particularly sleek and sleazy guest (after being lured into the room by his girlfriend), then chased by two diamond seeking goons, and finally forced to join an orgy (which - of course - all the guests take part in). The way over the top ending - the cheese dripping sort only Italians can pull off, that is - puts an absurd touch to the sombre proceedings of the film.


"Ah, this seems like the right time and place to be spouting morbid witticisms! Surely!"


"Hng! Take a peek through the keyhole! I've got a surprise for you, Rosa!"


Mandatory giallo lighting.


Orgy time!


Mandatory man-in-the-attic shot.

A good performance from Leonora Fani, who also played in the notorious Giallo a Venezia (1979), as the subdued (in at least two senses of the word) Rosa. Also features a neat soundtrack from Adolfo Waitzman.