Review: That Malicious Age (1975)
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆

“A sensual slow-burn drenched in sun, secrets, and ‘70s Italian moodiness.”

That Malicious Age (Italian title: Quella età maliziosa) is a provocative blend of eroticism and psychological drama, anchored by the striking screen presence of Gloria Guida and Anita Sanders. Set against a dreamy coastal backdrop, the film explores themes of forbidden attraction, disillusionment, and the volatile transition from youth to adulthood.

Guida plays a beautiful but emotionally complex teenager who becomes entangled with an older man hired as her family’s summer gardener. As their relationship deepens, the line between seduction and manipulation blurs, creating a tense atmosphere thick with unspoken desires and moral ambiguity.

Director Silvio Amadio crafts a slow, atmospheric pace that might test modern audiences, but it’s exactly this languid rhythm that allows the tension to simmer. The sun-soaked cinematography contrasts with the darker psychological undertones, giving the film an unsettling beauty. Anita Sanders, though in a more reserved role, adds a layer of mystery and quiet sophistication to the household dynamic.

While the plot occasionally veers into melodrama and the dialogue can feel stilted at times, That Malicious Age is more about mood than story. It captures a specific moment in Italian cinema where eroticism was used not just for titillation, but as a lens to examine power, control, and vulnerability.

It’s not for everyone, but for fans of ‘70s European cinema with a taste for taboo and tragedy, this film is a hidden gem worth rediscovering.