Oltre il buio

Also known as BEFORE THE NIGHT - Ally picks up a total stranger in a bar and has a wild night with him. She then starts investigating the mysterious death of his former wife.

For me the story struggled to make any progress, and was too slow, there are stretches where nothing much seems to be happening. It was also difficult to have much empathy or sympathy with Ally's character. She's rarely in any real danger, she is choosing to stick her nose into business which is nothing to do with her, and her lover doesn't seem interested in her becoming involved in his past.

Ally also casts aside her job like it doesn't matter, her heart is no longer in it, and she starts taking time off, severely letting down her business partner, (whom I recognised as George's psychiatrist in "Seinfeld".)

There's minimal female nudity, which is very odd considering that the only thing they have in common - and hence the reason for the story - are the wild nights of passion. Ally takes every opportunity to cover up, whereas Adolph Martinez gives the impression he would happily walk down Main Street naked.

Adolph might have gone to the Clint Eastwood Academy of Facial Expression - he just maintains this blank look no matter what is happening, I guess he is meant to be enigmatic or mysterious!

But there are some redeeming moments which are worth watching out for -

1.When Ally wakes up alone in the empty house.

2.The mother-in-law's plastic surgery stitches falling apart when she gets upset.

3.Any scene with the father-in-law, who is the only cheerful and articulate character in the movie.