I can’t say this loud enough. This is one of the most
gorgeous films I’ve ever seen released on blu-ray. Seriously it is a visual
delight. Let me put it this way and this is no fault in the film. I had to
start watching this film 4 different times. I made the mistake of doing so late
at night and was so tired I’d fall asleep. Again, this was no fault of the
film. And each time I went back, including the final time, I always started at
the beginning. Not to remind me of what happened but because I so enjoyed the
look of the film. It is beautiful!
So let’s get the story out of the way first shall we? The
film opens with the murder of Isabell, a model who works in an haute couture
fashion house on her way home on a dark and stormy night. Her body shows up the
next day in a studio closet. As the police begin to investigate the number of
suspects grows rather than dwindle. It seems most of the other models had some
reason or another to fear Isabella. The owner, the studio’s manager, friends
and other co-workers as well.
A diary that Isabella kept is also discovered but before it
can be taken to the police it is stolen. The woman, another model, who stole
the diary is tortured and also found murdered. Each time we see the murderer
he/she is clothed in a black coat, black gloves and a full face mask. The
identity of the murderer as well as who will survive are not revealed until the
end of the film.
Yes, the story can seem fairly simple. But the twists and
turns presented in the backstage issues among the cast make it as much a
melodrama as a near perfect giallo film.
For those who don’t know what giallo is it is a genre of
Italian film named so because they presented whodunits, murder mysteries that
were similar to the style of writing found in books published in that country
that were published with a bold yellow border, giallo meaning yellow in
Italian. Those books which featured the writings of Edgar Wallace, Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and more were quite popular. The films were mostly
whodunits as well but had several items that became running themes, among them
a killer whose face is not seen who wore black gloves. The amount of violence
was also fairly extreme for the time and was a noted feature.
So what makes this one stand out? The director of the film
was Mario Bava, a noted Italian director who came from a cinematographer
background. For Bava the look of the film was as important as the story being
told if not more so. It shows in this film. The colors used here virtually leap
from the screen. Bava used extremes in color to highlight various scenes with
the murders taking place in a highly stylized use of lighting and color that
I’ve not seen before. It helps the story rather than hinder it. It catches your
eye and makes you watch just to see the images on screen.
It was also one of the first of the giallo films, some
calling it the very first made although there were a few others that qualified.
While it was released in 1964 it holds up to today’s standards. Younger viewers
might think it is ripping off any number of slasher films they’ve witnessed but
the fact is it was there long before the rest. The film led the way for
directors that followed, including the most famous of these other than Bava,
Dario Argento. Having worked with Bava the influence he had on Argento is
obvious.
It’s hard to describe just how amazing this film is
visually. I know, I keep raving about it but it really is that great. From the
opening credits my eyes went wide watching what was on the screen. I kept
asking myself how I had never seen this movie but then I thought what sort of
condition would it have been in had I seen it years ago? Arrow Video has done
an amazing release with this one offering it in a 2k transfer and in 1080p.
Until you watch it you won’t realize just how amazing the film looks because of
this.
Not only have they done a great job with the presentation of
the actual film the extras are so good that even I watched them. And keep in
mind, I’m not one to watch all of the extras on every film. But Arrow does such
a great job of it that I can’t help myself. Included on this one are Psycho
Analysis (a new documentary on BLOOD AND BLACK LACE and the orgins of the
giallo genre featuring interviews with directors Argento and Lamberto Bava,
screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi, critics Roberto Curti and Steve Della Casa and
crime novelists Sandrone Dazieri and Carlo Lucarelli), an appreciation by
Helene Cattet & Bruno Forzani, YELLO (a short film neo-giallo by Ryan Haysom
& Jon Britt), GENDER AND GIALLO (a visual essay by Michael Mackenzie
exploring the giallo’s relationship with the social upheavals of the 60s and
70s), a panel discussion featuting Argento, Lamberto Bava and Steve Della Casa
recorded in 2014, The Sinister Image program featuring Cameron Mithchell one of
the stars of the film, alternative opening title from the US release, the
original theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by
Graham Humphreys and finally a collectors booklet that features new writing on
the film by Howard Hughes; Destination Terror, an interview with Joe Dante;
David Del Valle on Cameron Mitchell and more.
Arrow Video has pulled out all stops on this release and it
shows. Fans of the film will go insane over the combination of extras combined
with the gorgeous presentation. Horror fans may end up discovering a treat that
they somehow missed like I did. And
collectors will find this a must have for their shelf, an original film that
delights all of the senses. For some it might seem dated but for those willing
to take the trip this is one Italian film that should be required viewing for
film fans and one that I know I’ll be watching more than once.
Click here to order.
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