Orgasmo (1969)

A wealthy American widow (Carroll Baker) arrives in Italy where she secludes herself in a luxurious villa. But she's lonely which makes her a target for two decadent young people (Lou Castel, Colette Descombes) who seduce her into a lifestyle of nightclubs, alcohol and sex. Directed by Umberto Lenzi, this was the first of four films he would make with Carroll Baker who had left Hollywood and began a new phase of her career in Italian cinema. It's often mistakenly referred to as a giallo but it's really a Eurotrash (and I use that term with affection) thriller, a mixture of GASLIGHT and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? The U.S. release was cut by some 6 minutes but it still got an X rating. But what was cut eliminated an important twist perhaps to make Baker's character more sympathetic. Curiously, the film did poorly in Italy but was a hit everywhere else. Still, if its narrative seems deja vu, it's entertaining enough in its twisted way to keep you watching. Trivia: the film's assistant director was Bertrand Tavernier (COUP DE TORCHON), who would go on to become one of France's most respected directors. With Tino Carraro and Lilla Brignone.