That was an excellent one.

Excellent but underrated film

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

While my preference in Giallo films lies in the ones that play out in a more Horror or Gothic kind of way, One On Top Of The Other (Perversion Story) sits at the other end of the spectrum which is more of a Crime Detective Thriller. So no groovy music. No trippy scenes. No creepy castle. No grisly murders. However the convoluted plot and naked boobs are both present. Jean Sorel and Marissa Mell are both great but this is my least favorite film I've seen either in so far. Nothing new plotwise: dead spouse, extramarital affairs, insurance policy, brown trenchcoat wearing detective ... zzzzzzz ... Somebody put some cheese on this salt-free stale cracker! Where's Sergio Martino when you need him?

Unlike most of the early 1970s gialli this film has several classic elements of late 60s films, from the go go dancing to the sultry, almost cheezy, jazzy orchestra soundtrack, to the melodramatic, emotion-laden lovemaking scenes. It's more erotic than most gialli, and clearly straddles the boundary between Mario Bava's visual style --emphasizing shadows and contrast, and typical early 70s gialli. What really makes the film so great its ability to hold a level of tension -- visible in various characters' expressions and actions, especially the main character -- and suspense to make it a truly great thriller. And to do so relatively bloodlessly. The dialogue while dubbed is also quite clever and there are many scenes that are smart in their own right -- such as when Monica and George are hanging out in her San Fran 'pad' while he is confused and she is playing solitaire and telling him to answer the door. Definitely worth watching, for any fan of Italian thriller/gialli!

This may not be a horror film or even strictly a giallo but still it's a top notch sex and psychedelic dressed mystery that is a must see for fans of mid sixties to mid seventies Italian cinema. Perhaps more restrained than one might expect from Fulci and the pace a little uneven but this film looks so good! Great cinematography with splendid sweeping scenic shots of San Francisco and playful quirky close-ups that make one gasp. Full of delights such as the photo shoots, the nightclub sequences as well as the splendid use of the locations plus a super soundtrack from Riz Ortolani and not forgetting plenty of colourful nudity. The conclusion is sensational and the death row sequences suitably creepy and if there is more than a whiff of Hitchcock, whose complaining? Excellent.

Lucio Fulci may be best known for his zombie splatter-fests and that's a shame because he's really so much more than that. If you see the name Fulci and expect a gore-fest, you'll be disappointed. This one is even more bloodless than his other Gialli. But if you want a solid Italian thriller, you've discovered a real winner. I have no reservations about placing One on Top of the Other near the top of the list of the 60-odd Gialli I've seen. One on Top of the Other actually features very few, if any, horror elements. Instead, the movie focuses on two of the other Giallo trademarks – sleaze and mystery. And Fulci does a fantastic job with both. As for the sleaze, there's probably more nudity and sex in this movie than in Fulci's A Lizard in a Woman's Skin and Don't Torture a Duckling combined. As for the mystery elements, Fulci fills the film with enough red herrings and other mystery tricks for two or three movies. I was completely engrossed and entertained form the opening credits. Solid cinematography, nice San Francisco locations, an outstanding Riz Ortolani score, above average acting, and Marisa Mell make One on Top of the Other a new favorite of mine.My only complaint (and it is admittedly a small one) is the amount of screen time showing the film's protagonist sitting on death row waiting to die. A little tighter editing during this 10 or so minute segment might have helped make One on Top of the Other the best Giallo I've ever seen.I mentioned Marisa Mell in the opening paragraph and if you're a fan, you owe it to yourself to track down a copy of One on Top of the Other. She never looked better and I've never seen so much of her. Her motorcycle striptease scene is worth the price of admission. Check it out! Come on, Anchor Bay – give us that Region 1 release!