CRAVING DESIRE

CRAVING DESIRE: As the worldwide leader in film production for almost 100 years running, Hollywood’s ideas get copied a lot. And there is no better cinematic pickpocket than the Italian film industry. From Westerns to gangsters to cheesy sci-fi, there isn’t successful movie genre out there they won’t try to capitalize on. So even though Craving Desire was produced 6 year after the Michael Douglas / Glenn Close thriller Fatal Attraction, you can bet your sweet cannolli that somebody brought it up for inspiration. Directed by Sergio Martino, responsible for more than a few classic Italian gialli and poliziotteschi during the ‘70s, was well past his prime here, but manages to milk the most from a familiar set-up. Luigi (Ron Nummi) has a good job and a rich fiancé, but he risks it all when his first-cousin, Cinzia (Simona Borioni), shows up on his doorstep with a sob story. Soon, Cinzia runs him through a series of sexual games, sabotaging his career and personal relationships. Is she a nut job or is there some sort of agenda at work? The answer is a bit disappointing, considering Martino was a master at this sort of thing once upon a time (besides sporting one of the most unwieldy titles in film history, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key is also a superior murder mystery). But every time you’re ready to give up on the film, another twist pulls you back in. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Borioni looks like a softer version of Angelina Jolie. MYA Communication’s DVD presents the film is its original 1:33:1 aspect ratio with English dubbed and Italian language tracks. No subtitles available.