Nuda Per Satana Review

Distributor: Sodementedcinema Edition Details: XXX Version DVD Movie Specs: Genres: Golden Age Classic, Feature Film, Horror, Drama Also known as: Nude for Satan Run Time: 91 minutes Rated: X Release Year: 1974 Director: Luigi Batzella (as Paolo Solvay) Written by: Luigi Batzella Cast: Rita Calderoni, James Harris, Renato Lupi, Iolanda Mascitti, Luigi Antonio Guerra, Barbara Lay, Augusto Boscardini, Alfredo Pasti, Stelio Candelli, Gota Gobert Release Specs: Audio: Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (dubbed) Subtitles: Dutch, English, French Video: Widescreen, 2.35:1 Video Format: PAL Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 1

Nuda Per Satana is an Italian horror film, dramatic film, hardcore film, well, Nuda Per Satana actually never quite knows what kind of film it is trying to be and it keeps bouncing from one genre to the next never really succeeding at any of the genres.

On a dark and stormy night, Doctor William Benson (Stelio Candelli) finds Susan Smith (Rita Calderoni), who has crashed her car. Benson goes to a nearby castle to get help. Upon entering the castle, he finds it trashed and inhabited by weird and fornicating people. He runs into Susan in the castle, who calls him Peter. The next morning, Susan finds the same castle, which is in immaculate shape this time around, and finds the castle filled with classically dressed inhabitants who call her Evelyn.

The story, in concept, sounds good and mysterious, however, in execution it is neither of these. I would like to say that something got lost in the translation from Italian to English, however, that doesn't appear to be the case with Nuda Per Satana. In the form presented here, Nuda Per Satana makes absolutely no sense. The film starts out trying to be a horror film, then drops the horror elements and tries to be a drama, and then finally drops the drama elements and tries to be a horror film again. The ending makes even less sense than the plot, leaving the viewer feeling completely unfulfilled at the end.

The nonsensical plot is highly unfortunate since other elements of the film are well done. The sets and locations that Luigi Batzella used for Nuda Per Satana are great. The costuming is well done as well, giving Evelyn's time period an authentic feel. The hardcore footage appears to be insert footage that was shot at a different time and then inserted into the original film, however, it is well integrated with what appears to be matching sets. The hardcore footage was shot well and blends really well with the rest of the film.

Unfortunately, Batzella employs a cheesy synth music score for Nuda Per Satana, which detracts from the finished product since it seems horrifically out of place here. Antonio Maccoppi, the cinematographer, utilizes some odd tilting camera work in the film which I am sure was thought to be creative at the time it was being shot but just comes across as odd and ill conceived in the final film. Overall, Nuda Per Satana has way too many issues to make it an enjoyable film.

This edition of Nuda Per Satana from sodementedcinema has a bad mistake but is otherwise a decent release. This release only contains the XXX version of Nuda Per Satana and not the softcore version without the inserts. Nuda Per Satana is presented in the non-anamorphic widescreen ratio of 2.35:1. As to why sodementedcinema didn't make the release anamorphic is unknown. The transfer is in rather decent shape with grain, artifacts, and very minimal print damage. Colors are decently represented. Other than the disc not being anamorphic it is doubtful that anyone would have problems with the video presentation.

Nuda Per Satana is presented with the film's original Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural audio track. Also included on the disc is a dubbed English Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural audio track. Both tracks have a very low volume level but beyond that are acceptable with no real noticeable defects. The disc also includes options for English, Dutch, and French subtitles.

There are two extras that have been included on the disc by sodementedcinema. There is the original trailer for the film and a photo gallery.

Nuda Per Satana never decides whether it wants to be a drama or a horror film and as a result the film doesn't excel at being either. The film ends up being nothing more than a confusing mess that will leave viewers wondering whey it was even made. The hardcore inserts are well integrated into the film but there is no real reason to watch this mess. This release from sodementedcinema suffers from one huge error but other than that is a decent release.

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