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When a freewheeling couple lands in an Italian villa, desire, danger, and deception collide.

AN IDEAL PLACE TO KILL

1971 · 01:30:00 · R · Crime / Drama / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

A young British man and his Dutch girlfriend travel through Italy illegally selling pornography. They get arrested and ordered to leave the country, but due to circumstances, they end up at a villa occupied by a mysterious woman.

Quick Answer
What is An Ideal Place to Kill about?

An Ideal Place to Kill is a 1971 Italian crime, drama, mystery, and thriller film directed by Umberto Lenzi about a young British man and his Dutch girlfriend who, after getting arrested for selling pornography, find themselves at a mysterious villa with a wealthy woman.

Key Facts
Director
Umberto Lenzi
Writers
Umberto Lenzi, Lucia Drudi Demby, Antonio Altoviti
Release
1971
Runtime
1h 30m
Country
Italy
Language
Italian
Also Known As
An Ideal Place to Kill, Deadly Trap, Oasis of Fear, Dirty Pictures, Love Stress, Original title: Un posto ideale per uccidere

The SassyFlix Take

Giallo meets swinging '70s rebellion as Ornella Muti and Ray Lovelock’s randy duo stumble from selling illicit skin mags to the lair of Irene Papas’ enigmatic matron. Lenzi keeps things spicy with legal troubles, peculiar parties, and questionable hospitality—there’s more than just a ‘wild holiday’ at stake.
From the Vault

If your ideal Italian vacation includes nudity, harem vibes, and a possible frame-up, you’re in the right villa.

Why Cult

Lenzi's Giallo Blend

Director Umberto Lenzi mingles whodunnit intrigue with the free spirit of a '70s erotic thriller, offering a mixed-bag giallo with plenty of genre quirks.

Provocative Pornography Plot

Illegally selling pornography in sun-soaked Italy lands a youthful duo in a heap of trouble—the kind only a mysterious villa and its unpredictable owner can magnify.

Unpredictable Dynamics

A wealthy woman’s offer of shelter to the desperate pair sets off a chain reaction of erotic tension, suspicion, and shifting alliances.

Cult Cast Sizzle

Irene Papas, Ray Lovelock, and Ornella Muti headline a cast that makes the most of the villa’s dangerous potential and risqué games.

About This Film

Danish student Ingrid (Ornella Muti) and her English boyfriend Dick (Ray Lovelock) decide to sell pornography illegally in Italy, and at the beginning, they make a lot of money and spend a great holiday time there. Then they are arrested by the police, and their rebellious attitude (especially if you remember, this was 1970) doesn’t help much. They end up on the street without a Lira in their pockets, and when a rich lady (Irene Papas) offers help, it seems a stroke of luck and they are not suspicious at all…

Most enjoyable outing from Mr Lenzi and whilst giallo-esquire is really quite a mixed bag. Starting off as a bit of a hippy drippy affair with a young uninhibited couple using their bodies and their guile to get a free holiday, this turns into something much darker. There is real suspense including a splendid Hitchcockian scene in an aviary, lots of nudity and some pretty nasty moments. Irene Papas ( ‘Zorba the Greek’ and ‘Don’t Torture a Duckling’) lends considerable gravitas with her impressive performance as the mature woman with something of a problem to sort out. Ray Lovelock is appealing as the handsome young man who likes fast cars and faster women but it is the lovely 16 year old Ornella Muti who is always catching the eye. Apparently the almost too perfect nude shots are of a body double but we still get plenty of up the shorts shots as she bends obligingly forward. All three are a great asset and with a decent script and Lenzi’s constant inventiveness, this is a fine piece of exploitation cinema.

Themes & Keywords

Female Nudity Independent Film Murder Female Rear Nudity Female Topless Nudity Nudity Blood Death Sex Scene Police Cigarette Smoking Flashback Erotica Husband Wife Relationship Shower Shot To Death

Frequently Asked Questions

What is An Ideal Place to Kill about? +

An Ideal Place to Kill follows a young British man and his Dutch girlfriend as they get arrested for selling pornography in Italy, then find themselves at a villa with a mysterious woman.

When was An Ideal Place to Kill released? +

An Ideal Place to Kill was released in 1971.

Who directed An Ideal Place to Kill? +

Umberto Lenzi directed An Ideal Place to Kill.

How long is An Ideal Place to Kill? +

An Ideal Place to Kill has a runtime of 90 minutes.

What genre is An Ideal Place to Kill? +

An Ideal Place to Kill is a crime, drama, mystery, and thriller film.

Where can I watch An Ideal Place to Kill? +

You can watch An Ideal Place to Kill on SassyFlix.