Murder-Rock: Dancing Death

Murder-Rock: Dancing Death

1h 33m 5.6/10

Overview

The world of dance can be brutal. The rehearsals are grueling. The competition is fierce. At the Arts for Living Centre in New York City, the best of the best are dying for a part in a major production. But only a select few will be chosen. The selection process seems to be at the hands of mysterious killer who pierces women's bare breasts with a hatpin, puncturing their hearts. Ambition and jealousy appear to be the motive, which makes everybody a suspect!

Director

Lucio Fulci

Top Billed Cast

Ray Lovelock

Ray Lovelock

George Webb

Giuseppe Mannajuolo

Giuseppe Mannajuolo

Prof. Davis

Olga Karlatos

Olga Karlatos

Candice Norman

Claudio Cassinelli

Claudio Cassinelli

Dick Gibson

Cosimo Cinieri

Cosimo Cinieri

Lt. Borges

Berna Maria do Carmo

Joan

Reviews

Wuchak

10/28/2025

6/10

**_The Godfather of Gore’s version of “Flashdance”_** Shot in the winter of 1984 and helmed by Lucio Fulci, this giallo was influenced by the success of “Fame” and “Flashdance,” just combined with “Curtains.” To be expected, there’s a whodunit angle with slasher bits, yet it’s restrained in terms of gore, although there’s an explicit hatpin penetrating a woman’s chest sequence. It starts quite entertainingly, but becomes increasingly contrived and curiously dull, particularly as it switches into the last act. Whatever was captivating about the opening is essentially jettisoned for a less interesting whodunit mystery and the detective work thereof. However, there are some creative elements, and the female cast is good. The top ones for me are Maria Vittoria Tolazzi (Jill), Angela Lemerman (Susan) and Belinda Busato (Gloria) with a nod to Carla Buzzanca (Janice). A few years later “StageFright” and “Death Spa” would tread similar terrain and do it marginally better. Yet it’s superior to “Killer Workout.” It runs about 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in the studio in Rome, with exterior sequences done in New York City. GRADE: B-/C+

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