Al calar della sera

Daniela Poggi plays Luisa,an actress who is married to Giorgio(Gianluca Favilla) and has a kid.When she is alone in her home she receives strange phone calls.It seems that the caller is a sexual psychopath who begins to stalk Lusia after murdering Giorgio.I truly wanted to like "Submission of a Woman" by Alessandro Lucidi.The film lacks violence,but there is plenty sleaze on display including a lengthy rape sequence.The script offers a little bit of tension and the acting is quite good.Still "Submission of a Woman" has this dull look which often characterizes various made-for-TV Italian horror movies from late 80's and early 90's.Not to mention the soundtrack is plagiarised from Angelo Badalamenti's "Twin Peaks" theme.6 knives out of 10.

A much under rated movie. The few comments seem to vary between the very favourable and the down right disgusted. It is considered either so terrible it shouldn't be shown or so bland it is only fir for TV. Neither is fair, the film has a really good opening, tremendous build up to the main event, a most effective and well executed attack with satisfying ending. So what's not to like? The central rape sequence is not explicit but at the very start of the film we see two fairly explicit and sexy sequences involving the bound woman. One of these turns out to be within a film she is making within the film and the other I believe is fantasy (presumably of the stalker/rapist). This start colours the film and remains in the mind imposing itself maybe during the rape and thereby making it appear more explicit than it is. The babysitter and baby itself are used simply as devices to assist the plot and they possibly could have been brought more satisfactorily into the film, but never mind. Powerful, involving and largely assured film making with very fine central performance.

If I'm not mistaking this horrendous movie was produced with financial help of the Istituto Luce, a public institution supported by taxpayers money. And the movie was broadcast by RAI Radiotelevisione Italiana, another institution supported by taxpayers. I am wondering how is it possible that public money can be wasted to produce and broadcast such a film, devoid of any content, badly played, badly acted and badly directed. It must be conceived only by a sick, twisted mind. Episodes of home invasion, assault and rape actually happened and happen but there are good and bad ways to tell the story. Should I mention "A Clockwork Orange" ? I have worked for about 40 years in the movie business but this movie is one of the worst I've ever happened to see.