Malicious
A provocative Italian household comedy turns a widower’s pursuit of his housekeeper into a charged contest of desire, jealousy, and control.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- provocative
- playful
- lurid
- cult movie night
- retro italian cinema night
What critics said
Critics and historical reception recognize the film as a hugely popular example of Italian erotic comedy, though its mixed aggregate score reflects reservations about its provocative material and conventional execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The widower and his sons compete to seduce their housekeeper while the film repeatedly foregrounds sexualized household situations.
The sons pursue Angela as they move through adolescent and emerging adult desire, while Angela’s apparent innocence becomes part of the power dynamic.
The widower, his sons, and the housekeeper are bound together by unequal authority, blackmail, and attempts to dominate Angela.
The plot explicitly involves voyeurism, underwear, and repeated attempts to see Angela’s body.
Films like Malicious, and why
The Most Beautiful Wife
shared commedia sexy all'italiana tradition, sexual farce, domestic power struggles, and provocative humor
The Sensuous Nurse
shared erotic comedy, taboo desire, class tensions, and a provocative 1970s Italian tone
The Seduction of Mimi
shared coming-of-age sexuality, voyeuristic humor, and uneasy family dynamics in Italian comedy
Movie Details
- Director
- Salvatore Samperi
- Release Date
- 1973-03-29
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (375)
Cast
- Laura Antonelli
- Turi Ferro
- Alessandro Momo
- Tina Aumont
- Lilla Brignone
- Pino Caruso
- Angela Luce
- Stefano Amato
- Gianluigi Chirizzi
- Grazia Di Marzà
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Film Movement Plus
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Malicious about?
- A provocative Italian household comedy turns a widower’s pursuit of his housekeeper into a charged contest of desire, jealousy, and control.
- What is Malicious like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Malicious as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Malicious violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Malicious as mild.
- What did critics think of Malicious?
- Critics and historical reception recognize the film as a hugely popular example of Italian erotic comedy, though its mixed aggregate score reflects reservations about its provocative material and conventional execution.
- Which films are like Malicious?
- Films with a similar feel include The Most Beautiful Wife, The Sensuous Nurse, and The Seduction of Mimi.
- How long is Malicious?
- Malicious runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Malicious?
- In United States, Malicious streams on Film Movement Plus.
