Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Strip Nude for Your Killer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman February 27, 2019

Arrow continues to mine the wild and woolly (glove?) world of giallo with Strip Nude for Your Killer, and if this effort may frankly fall in line with other recent Arrow giallo releases like The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion and/or The Fifth Cord, films that may not have reinvented any cinematic wheels, it, like those two others, still has its own distinctive pleasures. As might be inferred from the questionable English translation of the title, Strip Nude for Your Killer doesn’t shy away from copious amounts of female nudity, with a kind of salacious subtext (and even text) running rampant through a tale that begins with a young woman expiring during a botched abortion. Even the presentational aspect of this opening sequence (offered in two color gradings, see the Video section below for more information) is almost shockingly provocative, with what almost amounts to a doctor’s point of view of a woman in gynecological stirrups. It’s an obviously arresting opening image, and it sets the tone for what in other ways plays out like a fairly traditional giallo, with a masked killer slaying a bunch of characters connected to a fashion house, in an element that will no doubt remind many giallo fans of other entries like Blood and Black Lace.

Unlike at least some of the other recent Arrow gialli offerings, Strip Nude for Your Killer actually has had a previous domestic release on Blu-ray. For those wanting a plot summary, I refer you to Svet Atanasov's Strip Nude for Your Killer Blu-ray review of the now long ago Blue Underground version. Svet's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons between the two versions. I'll also note that Svet gave the overall film just a bit of a higher score than I did.

Strip Nude for Your Killer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Strip Nude for Your Killer is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Strip Nude for Your Killer / Nude per l'assassino is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with Italian and English mono audio. Scanning and restoration work was completed at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. The original 2-perf Techniscope 35mm camera negative was scanned in 2K resolution on a pin-registered Arriscan. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, picture instability and other instances of film wear were repaired or removed through a combination of digital restoration tools and techniques. The mono Italian and English language tracks were remastered from the optical sound negatives. The audio synch will appears slightly loose against the picture, due to the fact that the dialogue was recorded entirely in post production, as per the productions standards of hte period. Likewise, a few scenes appear quite soft, in keeping with the limitations of the original photography and lab processes involved.

The film was graded on Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master at R3Store Studios, London.

All original materials used in this restoration were acessed from Surf Film.

Svet wasn't particularly blown away by the look of the Blue Underground release from several years ago, but even a cursory glance at the screenshots from the two versions shows what I feel is a noticeable uptick in clarity, overall detail levels, and health of the palette. (It should be noted that the Blue Underground release featured a slightly wider aspect ratio.) Contrast, for example, screenshot 1 in Svet's review and this review, and you can pretty easily see the better delineation of the booze bottle, the brighter wall in the background and a more visible grain field. Comparing screenshot 3 from both reviews also shows the noticeably warmer purple/pink background in the Arrow version, another example of a more robust looking palette. While there are definitely variations in sharpness here, as evidenced by Arrow's own statement above, detail levels are frequently impressive, especially on elements like the fabrics on clothes (whether or not they're actually being worn, and, yes, that's a joke). The restoration gauntlet has removed any major signs of age related wear and tear, and as is usually the case with Arrow releases, there are no pressing compression issues, either.

One of the kind of interesting things about this release is that it presents two different gradings for the opening sequence. There's one with a distinctive blue tint and another with more "normal" looking grading. See screenshots 21 and 22 for an example of each version. The choice of which version to play comes up via Submenu after the language version choice is made.

Strip Nude for Your Killer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Strip Nude for Your Killer features nice sounding LPCM Mono tracks in either English or Italian. Aside from the obvious differences in voices, I really didn't notice hugely substantial changes in amplitude or overall mix levels, so your preference will probably come down to whether or not reading subtitles bugs you. As the commentary briefly gets into, some of Berto Pisano's score, notably the credits theme, gets into near Blaxploitation territory (I'd actually put it closer to "glossier" entries like the original Shaft, but that may be just me), and while (as is also addressed in the commentary) some other cues don't quite fit the imagery that well, the score resonates cleanly and with considerable sonic energy on the low end. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly, and occasional sound effects also can be forceful. Finally, there are no age related issues with regard to distortion, damage or dropouts.

Strip Nude for Your Killer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary by Adrian J. Smith and David Flint is a little on the chatty side, with the two sometimes talking over each other, but it deals with a wide array of production and biographical data.


• Sex and Death With a Smile (1080p; 23:02) is an interesting video essay by Kat Ellinger focusing on both the gialli and Italian sex comedy efforts of star Edwige Fenech.


• A Good Man for the Murders (1080p; 14:32) is advertised as being a "newly edited archival interview" with actor Nino Castelnuovo. In Italian with English subtitles.


• The Blonde Salamander (1080p; 18:30) is a new interview with actress Erna Schurer. In Italian with English subtitles.


• The Art of Helping (1080p; 44:18) is a new interview with assistant director Daniele Sangiorgi. In Italian with English subtitles.


• Jack of All Trades (1080p; 21:50) is a new interview with actor and production manager Tino Polenghi. In Italian with English subtitles.


• Italian Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 3:42)


• English Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 3:42)


• Image Gallery (1080p; 2:45) features images courtesy of Peter Jilmstad.

Additionally, as is typically the case with Arrow releases, there is a nicely appointed insert booklet.

Strip Nude for Your Killer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As is gotten into in the commentary on this disc, and is also kind of hinted at in Kat Ellinger's video essay, Strip Nude for Your Killer kind of toes a weird line between traditional giallo films and the sexed up antics that were filling Italian cinemas at the same time, though it should be noted typically more in comedic films than in anything like this. Edwige Fenech's appearance here probably only highlights that kind of bizarre intersection, but this film is undeniably provocative in its overtly sexual themes and even presentation. And in fact there's an ambience here that some viewers may feel is positively sleazy, so forewarned is forearmed in that regard. While there are certainly stylistic flourishes here, especially with regard to some of the lighting and/or grading choices, Strip Nude for Your Killer tends to be kind of almost curiously rote from a narrative standpoint. Arrow has provided a release with significantly improved video and a host of very enjoyable supplements. Recommended.