From cult maestro Umberto Lenzi — the notorious architect of Italian shock cinema behind depravity classics like ‘Cannibal Ferox’ and ‘Almost Human’ - comes the long-neglected, provocative home-invasion thriller OASIS OF FEAR, where Lenzi expertly balances explicit shocks with genuine suspense. Cool, calculated, and chic.
"A steamy, boundary-pushing story!" reveals Ornella Muti, the ever-mesmerising Italian screen icon (Princess Aura in Flash Gordon) in a revelatory new interview exclusive to this release. "Lenzi captures how rapidly society was changing, the freedom and the danger that came with it."
Sizzling with magnetic performances, OASIS OF FEAR stars the luminous young Muti and dashing cult favourite Ray Lovelock as free-spirited hippies funding their Italian adventure by selling provocative photos of themselves. When the police shut down their operation, they seek refuge in a secluded villa owned by Barbara (Irene Papas, ‘Zorba the Greek’), a wealthy widow whose sophisticated charm hides sinister intentions. What begins as a flirtatious ménage-à-trois spirals into a claustrophobic psychological power game — where tensions, hidden motives, and shifting loyalties lead to blackmail, threats, and ultimately, murder.
Set against the sun-drenched backdrop of 1970s Italy, OASIS OF FEAR captures the reckless freedom and growing darkness of an era on the edge - think: the horror of the Manson murders (as reimagined by Tarantino in ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’, but stripped of comedic relief).
Also known, very appropriately, as ‘AN IDEAL PLACE TO KILL’ and ‘DIRTY PICTURES’, this Full 1080P HD presentation — newly restored in 2K from the original negatives — finally revives the lush cinematography and infectiously catchy pop soundtrack of this rarely seen gem. One of Lenzi’s most daring and stylish works, OASIS OF FEAR stands as a quintessential piece of provocative 1970s Italian exploitation cinema!
