Murder-Rock: Dancing Death

1984

1h 33m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

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Mystery

Thriller

Horror

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!

Directors

Lucio Fulci

Writers

Gianfranco Clerici(screenplay by)

Lucio Fulci(screenplay by)

Roberto Gianviti(screenplay by)

Stars

Olga Karlatos

Ray Lovelock

Cosimo Cinieri

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Photos43

Top cast

Candice Norman

George Webb

Lt. Borges

Prof. Davis

Dick Gibson

Joan

Gloria Weston

Maria Vittoria Tolazzi

Jill

Geretta Geretta

Margie (as Geretta Marie Fields)

Christian Borromeo

Willy Stark (as Cristian Borromeo)

Al Cliver

Voice Analyst (uncredited)

Lucio Fulci

Phil, the Agent (uncredited)

Janice (uncredited)

Susan (uncredited)

Bert

Bob

Riccardo Parisio Perrotti

Steiner

Giovanni De Nava

Hotel Receptionist

Directors

Lucio Fulci

Writers

Gianfranco Clerici(screenplay by)

Lucio Fulci(screenplay by)

Roberto Gianviti(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

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User reviews1

Review

Featured review

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+

Wuchak28 Oct, 2025