Rent Delirium (1987)

Die nasty! - Delirium review by NP

Strange how, outlandish as they were, the fashions of the early ‘70s leant giallo films a certain sense of style and identity – whereas the overt use of make-up and perms and shoulder pads of the ‘80s look hugely, and comparatively ghoulishly, dated. The male characters are fairly non-descript, heavily chauvinistic but less Neanderthal than their counterparts from a decade earlier; the women all saunter around like they’re Joan Collins; unsurprising perhaps, as the famous actress’s arrival in the TV series ‘Dynasty’ had helped turn it into a continual ratings juggernaut around the time of this film’s conception.

Scratching beneath the brashness of the decade’s veneer, ‘Delirium’ is directed by Lamberto Bava, who seems to promote style over substance. That’s not to say the story is bad, just difficult to engage with. The main character Gloria (Serena Grandi) looks terrific – again heavily manicured, made up and blow-dried – but isn’t really much of character. When the kills occur, they are accompanied by chunky guitar music and the victims assume curious identities (one becomes an insect, another has her head turned into a giant eye). As is often the case, the deaths provide the film's highlights.

It could be said that all gialli is style over substance, so ‘Delirium’ is running to the genre’s form, but it isn’t quite as engaging here as at the height of their popularity, and the musical score is lackluster. My score is 6 out of 10.