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Nothing Underneath is a stylish slice of mid-'80s Italian giallo that struts confidently down the catwalk of mystery, even if its heels occasionally wobble. Directed with cool detachment by Carlo Vanzina, this thriller bathes in the moody glow of Milan's high-fashion underworld, offering a glossy but slightly hollow meditation on beauty, danger, and voyeurism.

Set against the shimmering backdrop of designer studios, neon-lit cityscapes, and echoing marble hallways, the film wraps its mystery in layers of visual polish. From the icy stillness of secluded forests to the angular geometry of urban architecture, the cinematography by Giuseppe Maccari evokes a chilling sense of detachment. His lens lingers just long enough to make the viewer uncomfortable, even when nothing overt is happening.

The story benefits from a haunting turn by Donald Pleasence as a weary police inspector, injecting much-needed gravitas into an otherwise surface-level ensemble. American actor Tom Schanley, as the film's central figure Bob Crane, delivers an earnest if occasionally stiff performance, carrying the emotional arc of a man driven by obsession and eerie intuition. Renée Simonsen, a real-life model in her screen debut, has a compelling presence, though her character feels more symbolic than fleshed-out.

The film leans heavily on its atmosphere, and at times that works against it. Dialogue can veer into the mechanical, and suspense builds in fits and starts. But for fans of vintage Euro-thrillers and glossy murder mysteries, there's enough here to savor: ominous dream sequences, voyeuristic tension, and a parade of gorgeous people with deadly secrets.

Not quite a hidden gem, but certainly not throwaway either, Nothing Underneath is a photogenic murder mystery that's more captivating in frame than in depth. It's a thriller draped in designer fabric but stitched with familiar threads.

Not a top notch giallo but colourful and stylish enough and if the kills are not particularly stunning, the build ups are good and there is enough momentum to keep the film moving on. Very much a latter day entry to the genre, Mr Vazina happily includes many of the much loved elements from earlier gems, so much so that a lot of the time I found myself smiling as the good to see cinematic clichés appeared every now and again like money shots. The provocative title turns out to be rather delightfully appropriate, even if, of course, irrelevant to the story. Donald Pleasance just about keeps his end up, Tom Schanley is fine and the girls all lovely. Most enjoyable.

This one tries oh-so-hard to be a stylish giallo in the Argento-manner, combined with some erotica, and almost succeeds. Of course, you get all the pros and cons of the giallo-genre. Inventive cinematography, nice settings, elaborate murders, good score (by dePalma regular Pino Donaggio) and a plot with more twists and turns than you can shake a stick at, are bonus points plus a walk-on by Donald Pleasance who gives the picture a touch of class.

We also get silly dialogue to howl at, so-called actors/actresses who read their lines in incredibly stilted fashion (my 'fave' is the girl who says 'a maniac is trying to kill us all' with a tone of voice that suggests indigestion more than fright) and a motive for the killer that is far-fetched to say the least. Renee Simonsen is adequate in her part, as is Schanley. Because of the setting, the fashion industry in Milan, the array of beautiful women is neverending (but many of them are made up to look like hookers, not models), but almost none of them are presented in a positive way, rather as money-hungry bitches, ready to do everything for fame and/or money.

For the true giallo-fan there may be one thing that disappoints: the murders. If you are familiar with the works of Argento/Soavi/Fulci, you know that the murders should be vicious and yet beautiful almost. "Nothing Underneath" builds these set-pieces with some flair, but the payoffs (i.e murders) are usually (with one exception) pretty lame. However, the last ten minutes are quite suspenseful and competently put together, and Vanzina manages to pull off some neat set-pieces. Give it a try, but don't expect too much.

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.

"Sotto il vestito niente" (Nothing underneath) is what one could call a "standard " giallo. The film tells a straightforward story and is directed to the general audience, as it becomes clear by a more "conventional" soundtrack, but all the same – "Nothing underneath" is still a stylish and inventive film.

The plot , derivative as it may seem, is also interesting. A model in Milan is about to be killed. Her twin brother in Wyoming, Bob Crane (Tom Schanley) feels that something is about to happen. He tries to warn her. Too late. He flies in a hurry to Milan but his sister is missing. What happened to her? He warns the detective inspector, Comissioner Danesi (Donald Pleasance), that his sister may have been killed. But, as they say, "no body, no crime". Another model is murdered and this is just the beginning. Now Comissioner Danesi and Bob Crane join forces to investigate the murders...

As I said before, "Nothing underneath" is, like many other gialli, stylishly filmed, with good murder scenes, beautiful actresses etc., in other words, it has all the ingredients that make gialli so attractive. One can feel in "Nothing underneath" the love of Vanzina for the giallo genre, and for Hitchcock too.

"Nothing underneath" may not be a groundbreaking film, but it's quite an enjoyable one.