Dressed to Kill (1980)

Questions of identity, the duality at the depths of human nature, the intersection of dream life and waking reality, and of perception and its interpretations have always been paramount in the films of Brian De Palma. Or maybe he just likes to screw with a viewer’s head. Either way, Mr. De Palma’s Dressed to Kill (1980) set the tone for many more stylish, female-obsessed, murderous entertainments to come. As for plot, is it enough to know that homicide figures in the action and the film has a trick beginning, a sleight-of-hand middle, and a twist ending? Speaking of a twist’s endings, the movie’s ingénue (and Brian’s then real life wife) Nancy Allen flashes her ass as she walks into the shower. The steamy shot also includes views of her nude boobs! If that’s not hot enough, the hottie dons black lingerie in another scene wherein she gives a slipple of the nipple. Perhaps that’s why her performance received a Golden Globe Award nomination for New Star of the Year. Granted, Ms. Allen also nabbed a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. But Mr. Skin would rather give her a Golden Banana instead! Of course, the erotic thriller’s most thrilling part has to be seeing the parts on Angie Dickinson. The curvaceous stunner throws out a lusty, lascivious look as she showers, paying close attention to her au naturel ass and lovely lefty. But the closeup of “her” full frontal nudity really belongs to body double Victoria Lynn Johnson. Now, that’s skinematic trickery!