Murder-Rock: Dancing Death (1984)

**_The Godfather of Gore’s version of “Flashdance”_** Shot in the winter of 1984 and helmed by Lucio Fulci, this giallo was influenced by the success of “Fame” and “Flashdance,” just combined with “Curtains.” To be expected, there’s a whodunit angle with slasher bits, yet it’s restrained in terms of gore, although there’s an explicit hatpin penetrating a woman’s chest sequence. It starts quite entertainingly, but becomes increasingly contrived and curiously dull, particularly as it switches into the last act. Whatever was captivating about the opening is essentially jettisoned for a less interesting whodunit mystery and the detective work thereof. However, there are some creative elements, and the female cast is good. The top ones for me are Maria Vittoria Tolazzi (Jill), Angela Lemerman (Susan) and Belinda Busato (Gloria) with a nod to Carla Buzzanca (Janice). A few years later “StageFright” and “Death Spa” would tread similar terrain and do it marginally better. Yet it’s superior to “Killer Workout.” It runs about 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in the studio in Rome, with exterior sequences done in New York City. GRADE: B-/C+