lazarillo A husband and wife (Gianni Macchia and Patrizia Behn) go to their country cottage along with the wife's younger, university-student sister (Lorraine DeSalle) with whom the husband is having a secret affair. They run into an escaped convict (Joe Dallesandro) who has hidden a cache of money in the cottage. The convict gets the upper-hand over the husband and holds the trio hostage, having his way with both of the women. It doesn't really end well for anybody.Although it was directed by the respected Italian genre director Fernando DiLeo, this is actually an Italian "terror film",a sleazy and disreputable cycle films that involve lower-class cretins brutalizing, raping, and generally terrorizing wealthy bourgeois-type characters. These films were all indirectly influenced by the notorious American film "Last House on the Left", but the more proximate influence was no doubt other Italian films like "Late Night Trains" and "Hitchhike". These films differ somewhat from "Last House" and the American "rape-revenge" films in that they generally have a little less gory violence and trade more in humiliation and softcore sex. The victims in the Italian films are often unsympathetic hypocrites who might be as bad or even worse than their lower-class assailants. Most controversially, the (invariably sexy) female victims in these films almost always manage to develop a case of sexual Stockholm's syndrome either willingly having sex with one or more of their attackers, willingly having sex with one and getting raped by the others (a la "Straw Dogs"), or worst of all getting raped but ending up enjoying the experience.Lorraine DeSalle plays the sexual Stockholm syndrome victim here. But she's such an amoral, grasping, nymphomaniacal character to begin with, who is willing to betray her sister and manipulate both of the men in any way necessary in order to get her own hands on the money, that her character doesn't come off as particularly offensive (just not very believable). The wife is a good character and the husband is OK (albeit totally unsympathetic). The real weak link is Joe Dallesandro, who plays the lone criminal (usually in "terror" films there's more than one criminal). This would have been FAR more effective if this role had been played by another American, David Hess, who was the villain in "Last House", "Hitchhike", and most notorious and harrowing Italian "terror" film, "House by the Edge of the Park". Former Warhol "superstar" Dallesandro though is much more of a male model than an actor and not very menacing (it's kind of like being held hostage by "Zoolander").This is better than any of the Italian "terror" films except "Hitchhike" and "Late Night Trains" (but that's not much of a compliment). It's better made, but far less harrowing than "House by the Edge of the Park" (although the gorgeous DeSalle, who was in both films, somehow manages to have even more nude scenes in this one). It's not nearly as good though as any of DiLeo's police thrillers or his better sexy melodramas like "Being Twenty" and "The Seduction". I'd still recommend it I guess, but keep your expectations kind of low.

capkronos Director Fernando Di Leo is best known to us horror nuts for SLAUGHTER HOTEL (1971), a sleazy "giallo" that forgets to be thrilling or horrific and instead concentrates mainly on getting its female cast members naked during gratuitous lesbian and solo sex scenes. This one (which I saw under the title HOLIDAY MASSACRE) is his third foray into the horror/thriller genre and basically follows the same exact formula, cramming as much nudity in as possible but seemingly forgetting about everything else. Ostensibly a thriller taking it's cue from Wes Craven's THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (which influenced many concurrent Italian/Euro exploitation films), all this really is is an excuse to have lead actress Lorraine De Selle parade around nude for about 85 minutes. Naturally, if you're a Lorraine fan you'll probably enjoy this for what it is, but if you're going in expecting an actual thriller or horror film you will likely walk away pretty disappointed.Convicted thief and murderer Joe Brezzi (Joe Dallesandro) escapes from prison, murders a man with a pitchfork, steals his car and then heads off to find 300 million lira he'd stolen and hid in a secluded vacation home right before he was arrested. Before he can get inside and get the loot (which is hidden underneath the fireplace), married couple Sergio (Gianni Macchia) and Liliana (Patrizia Behn) show up looking for a little weekend R&R. Also tagging along is Liliana's self-absorbed and bitchy younger sister Paola (Lorraine De Selle), who is secretly having an affair with Sergio. That evening there's a lengthy sex scene for the couple (and a solo effort from Ms. De Selle on the couch), as Joe patiently waits outside. The next day, Sergio goes hunting, Liliana goes into town get some groceries and Paola decides to stay behind to sunbathe (topless, of course). Joe strikes when the getting's good, knocks out Paola and starts chipping away at the fireplace with a pick axe. When Paola comes to, she's "raped" (well, it starts as a rape...) and then her sister and brother-in-law show up for more of the same.A pretty low-budget affair, with minimal location change, minimal action and a very small cast, this one lacks suspense and tension and isn't nearly nasty or violent enough to be worth recommending. Dallesandro is the only one who manages to keep his clothes on the entire time (even during the rape scene) and basically coasts through this entire film with an annoying "angered" looking facial expression. Another constant annoyance is a huge poster of John Travolta's grinning mug hanging on a wall in the room where most of the film takes place. And despite the title there really is no "massacre" aside from a little rifle shooting at the very end.

HumanoidOfFlesh Paula and Sergio are married and own the small house in the mountains where they only travel to at weekends and Lillian is Paula's sister,who just happens to be having an affair with Sergio.Sergio is going hunting,Paula is going shopping and Lillian is staying home to sunbathe naked.Lillian puts on the radio and we hear a news report a thief and murderer who has escaped from jail and is on the loose after murdering farmer with a pitchfork.The criminal named Joe Brezy has stolen the car and is hiding near the house.He has buried 300million lira in the house(from the previous robbery).Joe takes the three of them hostage whilst he digs for his loot.When he finally gets his loot he plays Paula,Lillian and Sergio against each other telling Paula about the affair her husband and sister are having."Vacanze per Uno Massacre" is a cheaply made thriller highly influenced by rape and revenge sub-genre.Lorrainde de Selle provides lots of full-frontal nudity and the climax is violent and memorable.It's a crying shame that this nasty little tale of sexual tension is so obscure.8 out of 10.

mariorakocevic Incredible cinema from fernando di leo (one of his last films) : A deserted place-somewhere out of the city, Joe Dallesandro in best prehistoric "caveman" vein lurks around and attacks one man with a big,fat stone. Another man, he throws the stone on him but he doesnt hit, the man sets up a fight with dallesandro and finally loses his life.. then dallesandro drives the car-.The credits and the music of luis bacalov start... the viever notices, its going to be an amazing "event"... The plot continues when a man with his wife and her horny sister paola (performed by Lorraine de selle) are arriving at a small house for the weekend. Dallesandro not far away from here, first spies around the house and watches through the window that lorraine has an affair with her sister´s man dallesandro sees his chance when de selle is alone at home, making outside a sunbath he hits her, brings her into the house and after she wakes up he wants immediately a coffee(!) After some small talk dallesandro rapes de selle who then afterwhile says that she even enjoyed it an ungood surprise awaits the wife and the man..needless to say. one highlight of the film when dallesandro is forcing de selle and the man to have sex, while the whole time he points his riffle at them and gives comands -quote(to de selle): " and you show what we men like.." later it comes to a ultra pathetic pseudo-romance between dallesandro and de selle´s sister, but still the end of film leads to a pure tragedy... Technically the film is obviously very low budget-nearly amateurish, Dallesandro makes a totally over(and under)acting performance but he´s very entertaining, the actress of de selle´s sister is completely unconvincing (probably she never "acted" before) about de selles role i can say just the very best: most of the film she´s completely naked, so this is doubtless her best role! if you see her in this film and her other flicks as the bruno mattei films for example you note that nothing is too low for this actress-and i dont mean this negative! All in one a film that i like a lot, probably its not for everybodys taste..