ITAFF25: A Lizard in a Woman's Skin

A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN  

Una lucertola con la pelle di donna

A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin is a psychological giallo thriller directed by Lucio Fulci, a filmmaker later known for pushing the boundaries of the horror genre. Set in swinging London, the film follows Carol Hammond (Florinda Bolkan), the wealthy daughter of a prominent politician, who is plagued by disturbing, erotic dreams about her free‑spirited neighbor Julia (Anita Strindberg). When Julia is found brutally murdered in the same fashion as Carol had dreamt, Carol becomes the prime suspect. As the investigation deepens, she is drawn into a hallucinatory spiral of paranoia, deception, and hidden desires.

The film is widely praised for its dreamlike atmosphere and surreal imagery, blending psychedelic visuals with Hitchcockian suspense. Fulci crafts a disorienting narrative where the line between reality and dream blurs, leaving audiences unsure of what to believe. The film is also notable for its groundbreaking special effects by Carlo Rambaldi, who would go on to create the effects for E.T.

A powerful Ennio Morricone score adds a hypnotic layer to the story, shifting from lush orchestration to unsettling dissonance, perfectly mirroring Carol’s mental unravelling.

Though less graphic than Fulci’s later horror work, A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin remains one of his most acclaimed films, celebrated as a hallucinatory giallo classic and a high point in 1970s Italian thrillers.

1971 | Italy | Italian with English Subtitles