Marisa Mell (Danger: Diabolik, One on Top of the Other) is an American who has moved to a villa in Italy with her new husband (Chris Avram, A Bay of Blood, Viva! Django). There, after an opening scene reminiscent of the introduction to Hitchcock's Rebecca, Mell finds herself both pregnant and stuck in a Rosemary's Baby-esque nightmare with elements from The Exorcist and The Omen and giallo tropes added to the mix. Lou Castel (Fists in the Pocket, A Bullet for the General) is on hand as an archeologist who turns out to be a priest.
Perhaps in a bid to echo Mia Farrow's look in Rosemary's Baby, Mell is garbed in a natty short wig and a questionable wardrobe that would do no one any favours. She carries the film nicely though, despite that fact that her character seems to be irritatingly miswritten as having the chops to stand up for herself against small grievances, but not against those that threaten the life of her soon to be baby. The giallo subplot that sees an unknown killer stalking prostitutes fizzles in a silly anti-resolution, and overall, despite Mell's charisma, and positive expectations on my part, I found Obscene Desire a bore.
Additional points for Víctor Israel's (The House That Screamed, Horror Express) performance, and a notable score from Carlo Savina. Shitty poster though.
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