One on Top of the Other (1969)

- Una sull'altra
My Favorite Fulci, 27 April 2006

Lucio Fulci may be best known for his zombie splatter-fests and that's a shame because he's really so much more than that. If you see the name Fulci and expect a gore-fest, you'll be disappointed. This one is even more bloodless than his other Gialli. But if you want a solid Italian thriller, you've discovered a real winner. I have no reservations about placing One on Top of the Other near the top of the list of the 60-odd Gialli I've seen. One on Top of the Other actually features very few, if any, horror elements. Instead, the movie focuses on two of the other Giallo trademarks – sleaze and mystery. And Fulci does a fantastic job with both. As for the sleaze, there's probably more nudity and sex in this movie than in Fulci's A Lizard in a Woman's Skin and Don't Torture a Duckling combined. As for the mystery elements, Fulci fills the film with enough red herrings and other mystery tricks for two or three movies. I was completely engrossed and entertained form the opening credits. Solid cinematography, nice San Francisco locations, an outstanding Riz Ortolani score, above average acting, and Marisa Mell make One on Top of the Other a new favorite of mine.

My only complaint (and it is admittedly a small one) is the amount of screen time showing the film's protagonist sitting on death row waiting to die. A little tighter editing during this 10 or so minute segment might have helped make One on Top of the Other the best Giallo I've ever seen.

I mentioned Marisa Mell in the opening paragraph and if you're a fan, you owe it to yourself to track down a copy of One on Top of the Other. She never looked better and I've never seen so much of her. Her motorcycle striptease scene is worth the price of admission. Check it out!

9/10