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Horror Cult Classic

Lucio Fulci's psychedelic descent into erotic nightmares and murder in swinging London.

A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN

Biting, Gnawing Terror Claws at Your Brain!

1971 · 1h 44m · R · Horror / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

The potentially unhinged daughter of a British politician is accused of killing her hedonistic neighbor after she witnesses the murder in a dream.

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Vault Note

Fulci knew how to make a nightmare feel right at home in 70s London.

Programmer's Pick

Lucio Fulci trades zombies for psycho-sexual intrigue, unleashing a feverish cocktail of erotic nightmares, queer subtext, and gory hallucinations. Florinda Bolkan unravels as the haunted Carol, while Fulci's visual flair turns swinging London into a paranoid maze of fur coats, blood, and bat attacks. Not your average whodunit—this is giallo at its most lurid and surreal.

— SassyFlix Programmer
Quick Answer
What is A Lizard in a Woman's Skin about?

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin is a 1971 France-Italy-Spain horror, mystery, and thriller film directed by Lucio Fulci about Carol Hammond, who becomes the main suspect in her neighbor's murder after experiencing disturbing, erotic dreams that mirror the crime.

Details & Specs
Director
Lucio Fulci
Writers
Lucio Fulci, Roberto Gianviti, José Luis Martínez Mollá, André Tranché, Ottavio Jemma
Release
1971
Runtime
1h 44m
Country
France, Italy, Spain
Language
English, Italian
Also Known As
Le venin de la peur, Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Les Salopes vont en enfer, Schizoid, Serpente com Pele de Mulher, Original title: Una lucertola con la pelle di donna

Synopsis

Carol Hammond, the sexually frustrated wife of a successful London lawyer, is having bizarre, erotic dreams about her uninhibited neighbour, Julia Durer, who presides over noisy, sex and drug filled parties in the house next door. One night, Carol dreams culminate in violent death and she wakes to find her nightmares have become reality - Julia has been murdered and Carol is the main suspect. Was she set up, or did she really do it?

Why Cult

Psycho-Sexual Giallo

Fulci's film delivers a twisted blend of eroticism, dream logic, and murder mystery, channeling the wildest impulses of Italian giallo cinema.

Queer Subtext & Taboo

Themes of lesbianism, bisexuality, and gay interest thread through the narrative, pushing boundaries with explicit and controversial scenes.

Nightmare Visuals

From animal experimentation to surreal dream sequences and orgiastic parties, the film's imagery veers between the shocking and the hallucinatory.

Swinging London Sleaze

Set against the backdrop of London's decadent party scene, the film revels in its period detail, from fur coats to psychedelic orgies.

Questions from the Vault

What is A Lizard in a Woman's Skin about? +

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin follows Carol Hammond, whose disturbing dreams about her neighbor's murder make her the prime suspect when fantasy becomes reality.

When was A Lizard in a Woman's Skin released? +

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin was released in 1971.

Who directed A Lizard in a Woman's Skin? +

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin was directed by Lucio Fulci.

How long is A Lizard in a Woman's Skin? +

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin has a runtime of 104 minutes.

What genre is A Lizard in a Woman's Skin? +

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin is a horror, mystery, and thriller film.

Where can I watch A Lizard in a Woman's Skin? +

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin is available to watch on SassyFlix.

Themes & Keywords

Female Nudity Murder Female Rear Nudity Psychotronic Film Nudity Violence Female Frontal Nudity Blood Death Cult Film Rape Gore Lesbian Sex Bare Chested Male Cigarette Smoking Erotica