Nuda per Satana

Undoubtedly the key word to fully describe "Nude for Satan" is … RANDOM! The film opens with images of a girl randomly running through the woods naked, but there's absolutely no connection with the events later depicted in the story. After the opening credits, a male doctor and a ravishing female randomly crash their car on an open road and they both end up – once again … randomly – in an old ramshackle castle inhabited by no less than Satan himself and a couple of His sex-orientated disciples. The doctor and the women are both enticed by doppelgangers (have some random sex in the meantime) and it takes them quite a long time before they realize they're trapped inside a nightmarishly psychedelic and satanic paradox. Then later in the film, and purely for reasons of padding, there are random sequences involving a hilariously fake giant spider and the doctor aimlessly running through the caste's gardens. Now we all know that sleazy (Italian) 70's exploitation movies are not so much about substance but mainly about style, but Luigi Batzella really exaggerates here. I challenge anyone to find a movie is more confusing and pointless than "Nude for Satan" and, besides, it's not even that stylish or trippy as it hopes to be. What the film does offer plenty, however, is gratuitous sleaze and nudity. The DVD version I own, a brand new fancy Dutch release, even has X-rated footage (randomly, héhé) edited into the story. This is quite a hilarious sight, as the actresses as well as the decors obviously differ from the rest. But even without the pointless adult material "Nude for Satan" is super-sleazy stuff. Main starlet Rita Caldana walks around for half of the movie with one of her breasts hanging out of her top, but it doesn't seem to bother her at all. Then there also is some slightly more tasteful lesbian action and the movie ends in a gigantic orgy. Lovely, ain't it? The horror elements in "Nude for Satan" fail miserably. The aforementioned paper-mâché spider looks like a big potato with straws for legs and red berries for eyes. It doesn't move its legs, yet it "frightfully" approaches the poor dame in distress. I wouldn't recommend watching this film unless you're an avid fanatic regarding 'lost' cult treasures of the rancid 70's, and even then it isn't priority viewing. Mindless, undemanding fun for sick puppies like myself.

Several times while watching 'Nude For Satan' I had to pinch myself. Am I REALLY watching this or has someone spiked my drink?! Dario Argento fans often claim that his PLOTS aren't the most important things in his movies, rather it's his ability to manipulate mood and atmosphere, and his films are best approached as dreams, or better yet, nightmares. Luigi Batzella obviously feels the same way, but comparing him to Argento is over-doing it. Argento meets Ray Dennis Steckler is more like it! 'Nude For Satan' is CHEAP, it doesn't make much sense if you analyse it too much, but it is jam-packed with nudity and bargain-basement surrealism, and to my mind, is classic horror-trash that works on so many levels that your mind will boggle!

Leave your brain at the door (but not your libido!), enter Batzella's house of fun, you're in for an unforgettable time! Be careful of the doppelgangers, spooky paintings that come to life, and a TERRIFYING (well...) giant spider, and maybe you too will end up 'Nuda per Satana'!

Other than a dim caped figure who is a voyeur and laughs menacingly, there doesn't appear to be a "Satan" in this movie, nor is there that much nudity - although there is a good bit. Actually, this is a gothic italian horror film with alot of style to spare. Granted , it's rather unsubtle style, like slowly rotating the camera from left to right and back to skew the picture and presumably 'unsettle' the viewer. Nonetheless, it's an attempt to truly create an arty film, with lots of colors and striking images. Though the story is slow and confusing for a bit, that's pretty standard for what I have seen of Italian films of this genre. Not to constantly throw out comparisons to Argento just because he is the Italian director I am most familiar with, but this is definitely in that vein, without quite as much directorial talent but a little more acting talent and story cohesion. The print is decent on the DVD, and I think my cheap DVD player switched to dubbed English from the Italian when I restarted the movie after a break (it tends to reset the subtitle choice for some crazy reason), so I got the effect of both - go with the Italian.

I don't agree with those who say this film is just another sleaz-fest. Is it Exploitation cinema? Heck yes! But like many films of that sort, there is more to it than just showing a beautiful woman's bare bodkin. There is interesting cinematography and actual honest to goodness character development. I'm not saying there was a crime committed by shutting this film out of the Oscars, but I think it's a good film.

The lovely Rita Calderoni does a good job in her double role as Good Susan/Bad Evelyn and thank God we get to see her without being bludgeoned or maimed (al la Delerium). This is perhaps the best and most inspired work of director Batzella and is a must see for all fans of the genre.

could somebody PLEASE tell me what the plot of this film is all about?

OK, I gathered from the synopsis that it was about two weary travellers who stop off at a creepy castle for help, and they get into bother. Other than that, though, the film made absolutely NO sense whatsoever.

'Nude for Satan' just comes across as a rather pathetic excuse for loads of soft-porn love-in sessions.

The production design itself was very reasonable (apart from the odd dodgy special effects, and wobbly bedpost)

At one point, I was practically falling asleep while watching this film.

A similar movie, 'Bloodsucker leads the dance' is far superior in comparison (by the way, if you've seen "Bloodsucker Leads The Dance", you'll have noticed that the very same sets used in "Nude For Satan" also appear in that film).

The only thing to recommend this film is a highly atmospheric music score, otherwise, this is certainly one film I certainly wouldn't go out of my way for!!