As other reviewers have pointed out, 'Head Down, Feet Up' is a difficult one to track down and only available in a pretty chewed up form, which probably doesn't help its cause. However, you can see enough to know it's not great, a pretty half-hearted giallo, neither much of a comedy nor much of a thriller.

The lead, Corrado Pani seems to have one speed as an actor, namely a sort of smarmy guy who thinks a lot of himself. (Why does he always wear such ridiculous clothes in every film? Lots of singlets.) Anyway, he stars as Andrea, an artist who (eventually, like halfway through the film) becomes obsessed with tracking down a killer. Unfortunately, most of the film is spent on boring conversations about his flailing relationship with his girlfriend and, unlike a typical giallo, none of the murders happen on screen, making for a tremendously boring film.

Sadly, there are some decent giallo regulars, Piero Vida, Maria Pia Conte and Marina Malfatti, whose talents are wasted on a boring script. The camerawork and lighting are amateurish. The climactic fight scene is so dark, you can't tell who's who. The soundtrack is totally wrong, sounding more like a '70s sitcom about studious kids than a murder mystery.

Not sure what they were going for here, because it's not funny, it's not suspenseful, it's not enigmatic, and the romance story that sucks up most of the screen time is lame. Even the sex scenes are awkward and weird. This one is probably better off left in the 'lost' bin, its only interest being as a curiosity to giallo completists.

Italian cinema has deeply influenced world cinema through its socially conscious realism and modernist experimentation, but it also flourished in popular genres like peplum (sword & sandal), giallo thrillers, and broad comedies. Its narratives often weave together politics, contemporary social change, class consciousness, and family dynamics, balancing artistic ambition with entertainment that resonated widely.

Lamberto Maggiorani in Bicycle Thieves (1948)

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The mystery genre features the investigation and solving of a puzzle, typically a crime or an enigmatic event. Mysteries are known for their suspenseful narratives, intricate plots, and the challenge they present to readers or viewers to piece together clues and solve the central mystery alongside the characters.

Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)

The thriller genre features suspense, tension, and excitement. These stories are known for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats and delivering intense emotional experiences by revolving around high-stakes situations, dangerous conflicts, and the constant anticipation of unexpected events.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Nieves Navarro in Death Walks at Midnight (1972)

Decameron n° 3 - Le più belle donne del Boccaccio

Decameron n° 3 - Le più belle donne del Boccaccio (1972)

Marina Malfatti in Testa in giù, gambe in aria (1972)

Testa in giù, gambe in aria

Photos2

Top Cast11

User reviews3

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed