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Crime Cult Classic

Beachside mannequins, tangled lust, and deadly intrigue in Lenzi’s surreal giallo puzzle.

SPASMO

1974 · 1h 34m · R · Crime / Horror / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

While walking along the beach, Christian and his girlfriend discover a mysterious woman washed ashore. The following day, Christian meets the woman again at a yacht party and soon finds himself entangled in a web of lust, intrigue and murder.

Quick Answer

What is Spasmo about?

Spasmo is a 1974 Italian crime, horror, mystery, and thriller film directed by Umberto Lenzi about a man who becomes enmeshed in a web of lust, intrigue, and murder after encountering a mysterious woman on a remote beach.

Programmer's Pick

Mannequins on the beach, a yacht packed with secrets, and Umberto Lenzi at the helm—Spasmo gives you a crash course in giallo weirdness with every frame. Suzy Kendall and Robert Hoffmann generate sparks, but it’s those lifeless mannequins that steal the show, hinting at darker motives with their glassy stares.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

On a secluded beach, couples seeking romance instead stumble onto disturbing scenes: mannequins posed as corpses and a mysterious woman who turns out to be alive, yet elusive. Christian, initially with another woman, finds himself unable to forget this enigmatic stranger, Barbara. Despite fleeting encounters and her unexplained presence, he pursues her, leading him into a labyrinth of sensuality and suspicion. Their paths intersect again at a yacht party, and soon Christian is plunged into a world of paranoia, obsession, and inexplicable dangers lurking just beneath the sun-drenched Italian coast. Spasmo sets up a tense, atmospheric thriller where desire collides with psychological unease, blurring the line between reality and illusion.

Details & Specs

Director
Umberto Lenzi
Writers
Umberto Lenzi, Luisa Montagnana, Massimo Franciosa, Pino Boller
Release
1974
Runtime
1h 34m
Country
Italy
Language
English

Cast & Crew

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Director: Umberto Lenzi Writers: Umberto Lenzi +3 more

Explore More

Why Cult

Beachside Mannequin Mystery

Mannequins and murder swap places amid the sand dunes, creating a surreal and unsettling atmosphere.

Psychosexual Giallo Puzzle

Experience a tangled web of sexual obsession, confusion, and psychological games—a hallmark of Italian giallo cinema.

Italian Seaside Intrigue

From yacht parties to ruined castles, the film’s coastal Italian locations add style and suspense to every twist.

Lenzi’s Surreal Style

Director Umberto Lenzi brings his signature flair for disorientation and dreamlike storytelling to each feverish turn.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Discovery of mannequins and a mysterious woman

Threat

Entanglement in murder and intrigue

Effect

Unraveling of reality and safety for the main characters

Setting

Italian beaches, yacht, and seaside ruins

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Spasmo? +

Spasmo was directed by Umberto Lenzi.

How long is Spasmo? +

Spasmo has a runtime of 94 minutes.

What genre is Spasmo? +

Spasmo is a crime, horror, mystery, and thriller film.

Where can I watch Spasmo? +

You can watch Spasmo on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips