Soft-core fashion, saxophone-fueled sleaze, and a killer on the loose in Rome’s erotic underworld.
OBSESSION: A TASTE FOR FEAR
A cop is assigned to catch a serial killer who is murdering his way through Rome's sexual underground.
A cop is assigned to catch a serial killer who is murdering his way through Rome's sexual underground.
Quick Answer
Obsession: A Taste for Fear is a 1988 Italian horror, mystery, science fiction, and thriller film directed by Piccio Raffanini about a photographer entangled in a series of murders within Rome's sexual underground.
Programmer's Pick
If you like your giallo with a synth saxophone, runway fashion, and more than a hint of bondage, this Italian thriller pours it on. Obsession: A Taste for Fear isn’t shy about sensuality or sleaze—just don’t expect your mysteries without a side of leotards and lingering glances.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Piccio Raffanini
- Writers
- Jacques Goyard, Piccio Raffanini, Lidia Ravera
- Release
- 1988
- Runtime
- 1h 29m
- Country
- Italy
- Language
- Italian
- Genres
- Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller
- Also Known As
- A Taste for Fear, Obsession: A Taste for Fear, To eidolo tou thanatou, La nuit bleue, Un sapore di paura, Original title: Pathos - Segreta inquietudine
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
From smoky clubs to steamy scenes, the soundtrack lays on the synth sax heavy, especially during the film's most intimate moments.
Classic giallo elements—mystery, murder, and stylishly lurid visuals—are dialed up with a distinctly Italian exploitation flavor.
The world of runway models, soft-core shoots, and visually striking photography forms the backdrop for murder and intrigue.
Themes of bisexuality, lesbian desire, bondage, and transgender presence make this a heady mix of eroticism and danger.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Questions from the Vault
When was Obsession: A Taste for Fear released? +
Obsession: A Taste for Fear was released in 1988.
Who directed Obsession: A Taste for Fear? +
Obsession: A Taste for Fear was directed by Piccio Raffanini.
How long is Obsession: A Taste for Fear? +
Obsession: A Taste for Fear has a runtime of 89 minutes.
What genre is Obsession: A Taste for Fear? +
Obsession: A Taste for Fear is a horror, mystery, science fiction, and thriller film.
Where can I watch Obsession: A Taste for Fear? +
You can watch Obsession: A Taste for Fear on SassyFlix.
Who is the red-haired woman seen in the murder videos? +
The killer depicted in the murder videos is an unidentified red-haired woman, confounding the police and casting suspicion onto the wrong suspects.
What role does fashion photography play in the film's plot? +
Diane's career as a photographer specializing in soft-core shoots sets the stage for the string of murders and connects the victims to the film's central mystery.
