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Horror Cult Classic

Glamour, obsession, and murder collide in Lamberto Bava’s sleazy giallo of erotic danger.

DELIRIUM: PHOTO OF GIOIA

Her magazine sells fantasies. The killer sends back corpses.

1987 · 1h 34m · R · Horror / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A killer begins murdering the models from an erotic magazine, then sends the owner photographs of their bodies posed against her own glamorous images.

Quick Answer

What is Delirium: Photo of Gioia about?

Delirium: Photo of Gioia is a 1987 Italian horror, mystery, and thriller film directed by Lamberto Bava about a magazine owner stalked by a killer who murders her models and sends her grotesque photographs of their bodies.

Programmer's Pick

If your idea of high fashion includes murder as an accessory, this Giallo delivers. Lamberto Bava wraps sleazy glamour, erotic photo shoots, and a body count into a cult cocktail that’s as lurid as it is Italian.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Gioia, a glamorous former model turned men’s magazine owner, is used to attention—just not the kind that leaves a trail of corpses. As the brains behind Pussycat magazine, she finds herself at the center of a twisted game when an obsessed admirer starts murdering her models and delivering photographs of their mutilated bodies posed alongside her own sultry posters. With each new killing, the killer’s disturbing fixation closes in, blurring the line between Gioia’s carefully constructed fantasy world and a deadly reality. Lamberto Bava’s "Delirium: Photo of Gioia" is a provocative giallo thriller mixing erotic spectacle with slasher menace, where sex, voyeurism, and violence are all part of the glossy package.

Details & Specs

Director
Lamberto Bava
Writers
Daniele Stroppa, Gianfranco Clerici, Luciano Martino
Release
1987
Runtime
1h 34m
Country
Italy
Language
Italian
Also Known As
Gioia's Photograph, Photo of Gioia, Photos of Joy, Delirium, Original title: Le foto di Gioia

Why This Matters

Developed specifically to showcase Serena Grandi following her prior success, this Lamberto Bava-directed giallo reflects late-1980s Italian genre filmmaking and features notable actors such as Daria Nicolodi, despite receiving negative critical and box office response upon its Italian release.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: Lamberto Bava Writers: Daniele Stroppa +2 more

Explore More

Why Cult

Sleazy Giallo Style

Expect wild visuals, outrageous murders, and a feverish blend of sex and suspense straight from the Italian Giallo tradition.

Erotic Photo Murders

The killer stages victims’ bodies in lurid tableaux with Gioia’s own posters, making each crime scene a twisted homage to the magazine’s erotic imagery.

Serena Grandi Centerfold

Serena Grandi commands the screen as a former model-turned-publisher, surrounded by models, admirers, and escalating danger.

Outrageous Set Pieces

From bee attacks to refracting telescopes and Thai massages, the film packs in bizarre and memorable moments alongside its slasher core.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Obsessive admirer fixates on Gioia

Threat

Serial killer stalking and murdering magazine models

Effect

Victims killed and posed for grotesque photographs sent to Gioia

Setting

Erotic magazine world

Questions from the Vault

When was Delirium: Photo of Gioia released? +

Delirium: Photo of Gioia was released in 1987.

Who directed Delirium: Photo of Gioia? +

Delirium: Photo of Gioia was directed by Lamberto Bava.

How long is Delirium: Photo of Gioia? +

The runtime of Delirium: Photo of Gioia is 94 minutes.

What genre is Delirium: Photo of Gioia? +

Delirium: Photo of Gioia is a horror, mystery, and thriller film.

Trailers & Clips

Delirium: Photo of Gioia trailer
Official Trailer
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