Malicious (1974)

You won't be disappointed!

One of my all time favorites.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

it has all ingredients of an Italian comedy. but it is not exactly one of them.it has the chaotic slices of Meridional life style but it is not the story of its characters. because the key is not the humor, not the eroticism but the interesting and realistic image of a teenager impulses. a film about a metamorphose. step by step. different ages, dark humor drops, few beautiful scenes and seductive atmosphere. nothing special but useful for a style for discover the life as a form of adventure. a film who preserves the flavor of its period and gives a right definition about the eroticism in a time who dreams revolution. and a good performance by Alessandre Momo.

„Malizia" is a unique crossover of comedy, coming-of-age drama and exploitation, and it's not hard to see why it was the most successful Italian film in 1973. It made Laura Antonelli a superstar and every Italian teenager's wet dream. I can really say I've seen my share of Italian movies of that time and more than enough teen/sex dramedies with Fenech, Guida, you name it, but "Malizia" outclasses those on every level. Spoilers: While I will speak about some stuff that happens throughout the movie, I certainly will not spoil the ending or outcome."Malizia" is not out for cheap laughs or in-your-face slapstick. It has a subtle, humorous atmosphere, there are a couple of gags thrown in, sometimes risky, but never too vulgar or even offensive. As soon as Angela, the new housekeeper, starts working, the film quickly gains momentum and the script manages to explain the situation with some lively sequences of the new life of the widower and the three sons. Without any dialogue, those are easily carried by the fantastic score. It cleverly combines the brisky pace and the slowly building romantic aspects. If you do have a soft spot for this distinctive Italian music style, you'll be in for a 90 minutes treat. Waltz, tango, 70ies Synth - it's all in and it is always spot-on.While at first we see the father and the oldest son courting Angela openly, the story then focuses on 14-year-old Nino, who has a pubescent crush on Angela. But he soon realizes he can't have her like he wants to, and it disgusts him even more to see her becoming engaged to his father. So he tries all he can do to prevent the marriage. And he succeeds by inventing nightmares of his dead mother, which is a big deal for the father and the local priest - mind this movie is set in the deeply catholic Sicily of the 1950ies. Modern audiences might have to think twice here, but it is definitely convincing.Halfway through the film, the subtle, funny tone disappears and the whole thing turns darker by the minute. This is not really what one would expect in a typical sex comedy. Nino discovers that he can't prevent the marriage forever, but he can make Angela suffer for it. The lower-class girl, trying to put a brave smile on everything, has to follow her master's orders, and those orders humiliate her, take away her pride and dignity. There's not much she can do but to play along. These are the moments when Laura Antonelli's performance shines, as you can really feel for the girl, being in the hands of a sadistic boy full of sexual hatred.All this tension culminates in a uniquely done climax that you wouldn't expect considering where it all started off some 80 minutes before. The cinematography in these sequences is excellent. This goes for the whole film by the way. It is marvelous to look at and really brings to life the past.Laura does have a couple of nude scenes, but only short ones and in the dark, so don't expect too much. It's certainly no "Venus in furs". Nevertheless, "Malizia" does have some of the actresses' most memorable shots ever, showing her at the height of her radiant beauty. One striptease scene in particular - sizzling and unforgettable."Malizia" starts out harmless, lures you in and then all changes and it won't let you go. A fantastic work and a well-deserved, true classic. The box office success was certainly due to some "obvious" elements (just look at the movie poster), but "Malizia" offers much, much more. Highly recommended.

I watched this film a few days back and I have to admit that it is a good comic flick. In the beginning Ignazio's wife passes away. And, after that a new house maid comes to work there. Ignazio has three kids. So, eldest and the middle kid along with their father becomes enamored with the beauty of their maid Angela (Laura Antonelli). After a few days, Ignazio proposes to Angela to marry her, but the middle kid Nino doesn't want Angela to marry his father, so he makes an excuse of his younger brother that he sees his late mother.Sooner, when Nino comes to know that he can not stop his father from marrying Angela he begins mentally torturing her, and in the end he gets what he wants. This movie is a decent sex comedy, specially considering that it was made in 1973. There is nothing very vulgar in the film, but it remains sensual throughout the film. It can be seen once at least once, for Laura Antonelli. She looks gorgeous in this film. But, there is not much skin show. If you want to see more of Laura Antonelli, there are other films.The sexual tension between Nino and Angela in this flick has been shown very well and specially some scenes between them are really worth watching. I give it a 6/10.

This film is excellent! does away with norms and moral regulations that seem to be the norm these days even in independent cinema, where things must in the end be "right" or explained from a psychobabble ethical point of view blah blah..This movie surprised me in that in a very beautiful magnificent yet simple way explores the desires of youth with humor and honesty, fantastic ending, great acting, gorgeous visuals and I loved the soundtrack!! I would love to see this in HD because the color treatment is great and that soundtrack would be amazing to have.