Naked Vengeance (1985)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Carla Harris (Tranelli) is a woman who seemingly has it all: a rich and luxurious life as an actress with a successful lawyer for a husband. When her beloved hubby is killed by a common street thug, she travels back to her rural home town of Silver Lake, California, to live with her parents and re-evaluate her life. However, far from the serene environment she was hoping for, she has to deal with constant harassment from the local gang of good ol' boys. Led by local butcher Fletch (Garas) and including gas station attendant Sparky (Nicholson), among others, their rude and lewd behavior eventually escalates into a full-on gang rape. When the disgusting thugs end up murdering her parents, as well as Timmy (Roderick), Carla has an emotional breakdown that leaves her in a near-catatonic state. While being observed for shock and other symptoms at the local hospital, Carla decides to bypass the seemingly ineffectual Sheriff, John Cates (McLaughlin) and dispense her own brand of justice. Violent vigilante justice, the only kind that gets results. But will she eliminate her attackers before it's too late? Find out today! While Naked Vengeance has a similar look, structure and feel to other Cirio movies, this ranks as one of his best, thanks to the intense, no-nonsense storyline and pace. It can proudly rank among other female-fronted revenge movies such as Ms. 45 (1981), Savage Streets (1984), Sudden Death (1985), and of course the movie it most closely models itself after, I Spit On Your Grave (1978). A lot of Cirio regulars are on show as well, mainly as the lecherous townsfolk - his stock company of actors, as it were, such as Kaz Garas (who resembles Powers Boothe), fan favorite Nick Nicholson, and Henry Strzalkowski, among others. Cirio was kicked into high gear for this one, and, especially compared to his more standard outings, here he was surely in a state of grace.Naked Vengeance is the time when the "Cirio Formula", if there is such a thing as one, finally clicks and everything totally works. His method of repeating the theme song numerous times throughout the movie is employed here, and thankfully it's the driving anthem "Still Got A Love", by Michael Cruz and sung by the main star, Deborah Tranelli. The camaraderie of the baddies is interesting: they all bowl together (and have nifty personalized bowling shirts to boot), and they even work out together on the same schedule in a place that can only be described as a "Villain's Gym". The day after their atrocity, one of them even says to his buddies, "Eh, I don't feel like working out today." There were no other patrons in the gym, either. Maybe you get 10% off your membership if you're an evil scumbag. One of their beefs against Carla is that she changed her name from Olson to Harris, which in their view is true diva behavior that they cannot abide. Why Harris is a more glamorous name than Olson is not explained. Also of note is a movie marquee which is playing Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984).Important note: the version released on Vestron is cut. The version released on Lightning is uncut. So for anyone planning on collecting this movie, make sure you get the Lightning version.We love revenge movies here - hence the name COMEUPPANCE reviews - and Naked Vengeance is a gem.

Carla Harris really is having the worst couple of days of her life. It's her anniversary and she and her husband go out for a meal that ends in her husbands death by shooting. To help get over the death of Mr Harris she goes to stay with her parents. Unfortunately her parents live in a town where every man is destined to turn into a horny dog upon seeing women called Carla Harris. One quite brutal gang rape and a parent slaying later Carla Harris is out for revenge.I enjoyed this film. The acting's not brilliant and maybe it borrows a little too much from 'I spit on your grave' including that movies most famous scene. This film tells a similar story to that movie but it's a little more classy in it's execution. I felt myself get drawn into the movie willing Widow Harris to exact her revenge.The only downside for me was the overuse of the horrible theme song. If you like revenge movies this is definitely worthy of your attention as it's one of the better ones.

This was a very fun film to do, and I agree, this is one of Cirio's better films. We shot the film in parts of Baguio City, and at Lake Kaliraya in Laguna Province. We filmed this right after we had finished "The Devestators", which was also another fun one to do.

Naked Vengeance has basically the same story as the slow moving "I Spit On Your Grave" which mas made a few years earlier. But this is much better than the original and offers much more than you would expect from a low budget exploitation film. Slick and effective direction by the ever resourceful Santiago, a fast pace, and a remarkable acting job by Dallas star Deborah Tranelli (who also sings the title song!) make this a movie experience you won't soon forget. The movie is hard to find. Let's just hope it's gonna be out on DVD some day. It would definitely deserve it.