Written by: Michael Den Boer on September 8th, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1974
Director: Luigi Batzella
Writer: Luigi Batzella
Cast: Rita Calderoni, James Harris, Renato Lupi, Iolanda Mascitti, Luigi Antonio Guerra, Barbara Lay, Augusto Boscardini, Alfredo Pasti, Stelio Candelli, Gota Gobert
DVD released: September 9th, 2008
Approximate running time: 78 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono Italian, Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English
DVD Release: Redemption Films
Region Coding: Region 1 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95
Synopsis: While on his way to see one of his patients Dr. William Benson encounters a young woman who has been injured in a car wreck. Unable to get his car too start he ventures to a nearby castle in search of help. Once inside the castle Dr. Benson comes across a woman named Evelyn who looks just like Susan the injured woman in the car. The next morning Susan goes to the castle when the Dr. Benson doesn’t return. Shortly after her arrival she encounters a man named Peter who is the spitting image of Dr. Benson. Has Dr. Benson and Susan entered into an alternate universe that is inhabited with perverse clones that look exactly like them?
With a salacious title like Nude for Satan and opening where the films lead actress Rita Calderoni wanders semi-nude through a fog shrouded forest it becomes quickly clear what type of film Nude for Satan is. This is an exploitative film that is knee deep in nudity, Satanism and lesbianism. As stated before the films lead actress Rita Calderoni spends more time naked or partially exposed then she does clothed. This is a smart choice by director Luigi Batzella since this story which he also wrote is convoluted and at times pretentious. Some of the film’s most absurd moments are the scenes with actor James Harris in the role of the Devil. Without a doubt the most memorable scene in Nude for Satan is a scene where Susan gets caught in a giant spider web and is terrorized by a large rubber spider.
The structure of the film and bizarre plot almost feel like a rejected premise for a Renato Polselli. The films score sounds a lot like the score from Renato Polselli’s Delirium. The lead male dual role of Dr. William Benson / Peter is woodenly played by Stelio Candelli almost feels like it was a role crafted for Mickey Hargitay. Even the English dubbed for the Dr. William Benson/Peter sounds like the same actor that is used to overdub Mickey Hargitay in several of the Italian films he appeared in. One other major similarity between Nude for Satan and the films of Renato Polselli is the use of Rita Calderoni is lead female role. Just a year before she starred in Nude for Satan as two characters she had a dual role performance in the Renato Polselli film The Reincarnation of Isabel.
The DVD:
Nearly a decade ago Redemptions films released for the first time in North America Nude for Satan on DVD. This original release while flagged for progressive playback was letterboxed widescreen instead of anamorphic. Nine years later Redemption films re-releases Nude for Satan on DVD with a brand new anamorphic widescreen transfers that is improves upon some of the previous releases shortcomings. Oddly enough though this new transfer is interlaced and not flagged for Progressive playback like the previous release. Even though the transfer is interlaced the image remains stable throughout with no blurring or ghosting issues. This new release appears to be a PAL to NTSC conversion with the time length coming in at 78:20 while the previous DVD release from Redemption clocks in at about 81:30. Despite the differences in the running time both releases are completely uncut.
Just like the previous release from Redemption this new DVD release carries over the English and Italian audio mixes. Both audio mixes are presented in a Dolby Digital mono. The audio is evenly balanced and dialog is clear throughout. Removable English subtitles that are error free and easy to follow have been included.
Not all the extras include with the previous DVD release have been carried over like a brief poster gallery, the English language trailer and informative liner notes about the production history of the film are all missing from this re-release. Extras for this new DVD release are limited to the films Italian language trailer (no English subtitles have been provided), a gallery of images from the film and four trailers for other films currently available on DVD from Redemption films. Overall Redemption Films re-release of Nude for Satan while not without its flaws gives fans of this film a chance to obtain a copy of this film at a more then reasonable price.
