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 DRESSED TO KILL (UNRATED) |
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| Featuring: Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen, Dennis Franz, Keith Gordon |
| Director: Brian De Palma |
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Distributor: MGM Video & DVD |
| DVD release: 06 September 2011 |
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Runtime: 105 min.
(1 disc) |
| Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Blu-ray |
| DVD features: 1080p High Definition, Aspect ratio 2.34:1, Audio tracks (English - DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French - Dolby Digital Mono), Subtitles (English SDH, French, Spanish), "The Making of a Thriller," "Slashing Dressed to Kill," "Dressed to Kill: An Appreciation by Keith Gordon," Comparison of the unrated/R-rated/network versions, Animated photo gallery
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In the uneven but generally acclaimed career of Brian DePalma, Dressed to Kill remains one of his most notorious films, both for its graphic sex and violence and for being accused of being a rather blatant Hitchcock rip-off. In the opinion of this reviewer, however, it is also one of his best.
Perhaps Dressed to Kill's most notable achievement is that it is as close as Hollywood came to making an Italian giallo. The giallo is a controversial subgenre of thrillers that had their heyday in 1970s in Italy. Under the direction of Italian directors such as Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Mario Bava and Aldo Lado, they could be described as "Hitchcock with a meaner streak."
Like Psycho , there was often an undercurrent of sex, violence and (arguably) misogyny; the victims were typically beautiful women, stalked or murdered by a killer often wearing black gloves and armed with a knife or razor. Unlike, Psycho, however, the films were in color, often featured nudity, and were very, very bloody.
If grouped in that subgenre, Dressed to Kill is one of the best giallos ever made. The spectacular, frightening murder that is the centerpiece of the film was controversial in its day and remains shocking. Sex and perhaps misogyny underlie the film (though to be fair, it does feature a strong heroine most viewers will pull and fear for), and it culminates in an effective twist at the end (though Hitchcock fans might have figured it out).
Like the best giallos, Dressed to Kill is sexy, violent, bloody and scary. It might not be for all tastes. However, it is a terrific, brilliantly directed thriller that holds up extremely well over 30 years after its release.
Included in the Blu-ray:
- Uncut version of the film
- The Making of Dressed to Kill documentary
- Unrated, R-Rated, and TV-Rated Comparison featurette
- Slashing Dressed to Kill featurette
- An Appreciation by Keith Gordon featurette
- Animated photo gallery
- Theatrical trailer
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