As a vehicle for erotic expression, this film works fine. Angie Dickinson, Michael Caine, and Nancy Allen are convincing in their roles, though their characters are so preoccupied with sex, they seem shallow. The elegant music and stylish cinematography blend well with the acting, to amplify a sense of high-class eroticism.
But I was expecting suspense; this film had little. The number of murders was minimal. The major incident focused on the victim's brief peril instead of the killer's ongoing malevolent intent. And there were too few suspects. Some of the film's scenes lacked a sense of sinister foreboding.
The film's highlight was the art gallery segment, all eight minutes of it. Although it rendered no suspense, it was in itself an elegant display of cinema craftsmanship, an effective blend of silence, fine acting, and technically difficult camera work.
"Dressed To Kill" has the feel of other films from the late 70's, when film makers were exploring how far they could go with sexual content, which makes the film seem dated.
Overall, this is a stylish and technically well-made film about eroticism. As a suspense thriller, however, it is less effective.
But I was expecting suspense; this film had little. The number of murders was minimal. The major incident focused on the victim's brief peril instead of the killer's ongoing malevolent intent. And there were too few suspects. Some of the film's scenes lacked a sense of sinister foreboding.
The film's highlight was the art gallery segment, all eight minutes of it. Although it rendered no suspense, it was in itself an elegant display of cinema craftsmanship, an effective blend of silence, fine acting, and technically difficult camera work.
"Dressed To Kill" has the feel of other films from the late 70's, when film makers were exploring how far they could go with sexual content, which makes the film seem dated.
Overall, this is a stylish and technically well-made film about eroticism. As a suspense thriller, however, it is less effective.