Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Too Beautiful to Die Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 16, 2021

To help boost box office potential for 1988’s “Too Beautiful to Die,” the feature was marketed as a sequel to 1985’s “Nothing Underneath.” While both endeavors explore the world of modeling and all the horrors it contains, “Too Beautiful to Die” isn’t a follow-up, offering its own journey into darkness of human behavior. The first film was a Brian De Palma tribute, and the second one becomes more of a Dario Argento experience, with heaping helpings of Alfred Hitchcock tributes added for flavor. It’s also more of a giallo, tracking a crisis involving the well-being of professionally pretty people and the black-gloved killer trying to do them all harm with a comically exaggerated weapon.

“Too Beautiful to Die” is a mystery with a few harder edges, exploring the investigation into a murder of a model who was sexually assaulted before she was killed, creating a list of suspects as her whereabouts are discovered. The tracking of clues and the questioning of suspects is fairly routine, but more interesting is the setting, with the world of modeling and music video production adding a touch of uniqueness to the endeavor. Director Dario Piana accepts the mid-‘80s challenge, creating a dynamically shot feature that often plays like an MTV clip, putting more attention into cinematography needs than storytelling at times. However, there’s the pressure of an unknown killer terrorizing the models and producers, using a multi-bladed weapon to take care of loose ends. To help emphasize suspenseful intent, composer Roberto Cacciapaglia offers a brazen lift of “Psycho” strings, reinforcing the influence of other, more seasoned moviemakers.

Too Beautiful to Die Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negatives. "To Beautiful to Die" is an extremely stylish picture, and the viewing experience preserves cinematographic intent, offering careful delineation with shadow play and dimly lit performance sequences. Detail is softer but appealing, exploring skin surfaces and the cold steel of the murder weapons. Ornate costuming is also textured throughout. Colors are vivid, mostly explored through fashion options, which range from black and blue latex to billowy dresses that showcase bright primaries. Skintones are natural. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Too Beautiful to Die Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix isn't entirely compelling, finding dialogue exchanges dialed down while soundtrack selections and scoring cues are cranked up, creating jarring transitions between moments. Unintelligibility isn't an issue, but balance is, requiring some volume riding to maintain control over the track. A 2.0 Dolby Digital Italian language mix is a bit easier on the ears.

Too Beautiful to Die Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Rachael Nisbet.

• "Nothing True But The Eyes" (42:13, HD) is a lengthy interview with writer/director Dario Piana, who charts his creative development in the world of commercials, offered "Too Beautiful to Die" as a "novice," not even 30 years old at the time. Tasked with emphasizing sound and style, Piana pulled from his years in advertising and love of Ridley Scott, exploring various technical achievements found in the film. The interviewee details his extensive use of storyboards to support daily work, and his general resistance to the marketing push of "Too Beautiful to Die" as a sequel to "Nothing Underneath." Casting choices are analyzed, and Piana's career is explored, eventually making a few Hollywood pictures, including "Lost Boys: The Thirst."

• Deleted Scenes (12:21, HD) are presented in storyboard form.

• Alternate Ending (1:59, HD) is presented in storyboard form.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Too Beautiful to Die Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

What's not to like about this movie? There's sex, violence, some very Duran Duran-esque music video imagery, and an unwieldy weapon. Well, there's a lot that doesn't work in "Too Beautiful to Die," including a screenplay that's not incredibly advanced for giallo entertainment, allowing those practiced in the subgenre to predict the identity of the killer long before the writing gets to any reveals. The routineness of the picture is also disappointing, with Piana keeping everything tidy to match expectations, preventing the film from getting enjoyably wild. It's an entertaining offering of style and slashings, working best with lowered expectations for surprises.