A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971)

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A Lizard in a Woman's Skin

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A Lizard in a Woman's Skin

Trailer 2:14

A Lizard in a Woman's Skin

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Florinda Bolkan

Carol Hammond

Stanley Baker

Inspector Corvin

Jean Sorel

Frank Hammond

Silvia Monti

Deborah

Alberto de Mendoza

Sergeant Brandon

Penny Brown

Jenny

Mike Kennedy

Hubert

Ely Galleani

Joan Hammond
(as Edy Gall)

Jorge Rigaud

Dr. Kerr
(as George Rigaud)

Ezio Marano

Lowell - Scientific Squad

Franco Balducci

McKenna

Erzsi Paál

Mrs. Gordon
(as Ersi Pond)

Luigi Antonio Guerra

Policeman

Gaetano Imbró

Policeman

Leo Genn

Edmond Brighton

Tony Adams

Policeman
(uncredited)

Jack Armstrong

Train Passenger
(uncredited)

John Clifford

Train Passenger
(uncredited)

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Trivia
The scene in which Carol encounters the disemboweled dogs in the clinic became quite controversial because of the startlingly realistic (and graphic) appearance of the fake prop dogs. Director Lucio Fulci was nearly sent to prison because it was believed that the dogs were real and Fulci had allowed animal cruelty on the film. However crew members were able to testify in court that the "dogs" were indeed fake and no animals had ever been harmed. Special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi even presented the dog props in court to convince the jury. This was the first time that an effects artist had to testify in court that their work was fake.

Goofs
When people are taking pictures of Julia Durer's body, her eyebrow moves.

Quotes
Hubert: What do you expect us to do with all that acid inside us, huh?
Jenny: We were filled with acid from our heads to our toes. And you know something? Under the effect of acid, I look at you here and all I see is a red blob. Or a galloping horse.
Inspector Corvin: You don't remember anything at all about that night?
Hubert: Yeah, I remember. Yes, I remember, seeing that night, a lizard - in a woman's skin.
Inspector Corvin: Shit!
Hubert: No, beautiful. Just beautiful.

Alternate versions
The American version released in 1973 (as Schizoid) was actually seven minutes longer than the current Italian print of that time. AIP restored some self-censored erotic footage (mostly in the orgy and dream sequences) and marketed the film to the swinging Euro/trash/nudity enthusiasts of the era.

Connections
Edited into ¿Quién es Florinda Bolkan? (2010)

Lucio Fulci's A Lizard in a Woman's Skin is a very solid giallo but not the best from him. Working with a decent script and some solid actors, Fulci creates a truly bizarre mood with some nifty visuals and makes for quite a unique viewing experience. The hallucinations/dream sequences are well done, creepy and suspenseful and set the tone for an original mystery that unfolds mostly well and peppered with some solid set pieces along the way, two of which involve mutilated dogs and an array of nasty bats.

Fulci is a talented giallo filmmaker, his films Seven Notes in Black (aka The Psychic) and particularly Don't Torture a Duckling show he can effortlessly handle murder mysteries with relatively straight forward narratives and create much suspense without his trademark gore set pieces that characterized his later nonsensical Gothic horror films. In most respects; Lizard is a simple murder mystery laced with dreamlike visuals and is made out to be more complicated than it actually turns out to be. It's well written and constantly keeps the viewer guessing up until the very end. The conclusion not only makes sense but is wholly satisfying and makes the viewer want to return to the film in the near future. Also, it's quite sexy, with regular giallo femme Anita Strindberg showing off her goods.

At only 90 plus minutes the film somehow seems a bit overlong. Some scenes feel rather long winded and overly stretched. Supporting actors are rather lame and the English dub is not very good.

Overall Lizard is an interesting movie which just shows even further that Fulci should have stayed mostly within the thriller genre. Argento he's not but a very good giallo filmmaker nonetheless.