A Blade in the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

A Blade in the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 27, 2023

With the heyday of giallo productions coming to a close in the late 1970s, filmmakers were still hunting for blood in the subgenre during the early 1980s. For Lamberto Bava, the chance to once again toy with death and suspense arrived in 1983’s “A Blade in the Dark,” which is a thriller contained to a single location, forcing the production to generate some excitement while staying close to familiar surroundings. “A Blade in the Dark” isn’t a striking chiller from Bava, who’s stuck trying to find ways to surprise viewers with writing that’s less committed to the cause, inspiring lengthy scenes of property tours where screen stillness is mistaken for nail-biting exploration. Despite some troublesome inertia, Bava manages to score some decent unease with acts of violence, getting a little bloody with horrible things happening to innocent people, and the whodunit has some snap to it, but only when there’s interest in pursuing tension.

Bruno (Andrea Occhipinti) is a film composer working on the latest offering of horror from director Sandra (Anny Papa), who’s aiming to tap into childhood fears with her secretive work on the movie. To help find creative inspiration, Bruno rents a remote villa for a month from his friend, Tony (Michele Soavi), setting up his equipment while preparing to focus solely on his job. However, interruptions are plentiful for the musician, who’s first visited by Katia (Valeria Cavalli), a frisky neighbor on the hunt for the diary she left behind. There’s Giulia (Lara Lamberti), Bruno’s girlfriend. And there’s Angela (Fabiola Toledo), a friend of Katia looking to pay a visit to the villa. During this busy time, Bruno begins to understand that something isn’t right around the property, discovering drops of blood and learning more about missing guests. When clues start popping up around the villa, Bruno goes into detective mode, trying to learn more about Linda, a mystery woman who once rented the dwelling, leaving a big impression on those who interacted with her.

The premise is interesting, with “A Blade in the Dark” heading in a very De Palma-esque direction with Bruno, who’s trying to score a new horror movie while basically living in one. Hoping for some peace to complete his work, Bruno is subjected to a number of interruptions, and they all happen to be young women, teasing a softcore adult film to come with each visit. Bava doesn’t go sensual with the endeavor (which was originally created for television), instead working to find ways to make each visit a little strange before things get ugly for the guests. The weapon of choice here is a small box cutter, but the killer isn’t afraid to use it, and “A Blade in the Dark” periodically highlights bodily harm, with graphic content graduating to a kitchen knife, adding a few potent visuals to the effort. And the feature needs it, as Bruno’s sleuthing isn’t exactly riveting, with Bava ordering up lengthy scenes of the character walking around, investigating the area and picking up on clues.

“A Blade in the Dark” is presented in two versions: an Extended Italian T.V. Edit (108:58) and a Theatrical Cut (97:06).

A Blade in the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"A Blade in the Dark" is presented in 4K, with the UHD dealing with two versions of the feature, each sourced from a 16mm original negative. Detail reaches as far as possible during the viewing experience, working with nicely resolved grain, keeping the presentation film-like. Skin particulars are appreciable, and villa interiors retain depth. Costuming is decently fibrous. Colors are capably refreshed, with bold reds throughout, explored on makeup additions and murder sequences. Period costuming brings out rich primaries, and pool experiences secure a crystal blue. Highlights are tasteful. Blacks are deep, with strong delineation, and the source is in decent condition, with some hairs detected.

A Blade in the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks are offered in both Italian and English, with just a mild lift in clarity found in the former. Dialogue exchanges are satisfactorily defined, preserving emotional emphasis and dubbed performances. Scoring is clear, from gentle piano tinkling to stronger synth, supporting suspense sequences. Sound effects are blunt but appreciable.

A Blade in the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (42 pages) features essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Dana Reinoos, and Caroline Kopko.

Extended Cut

• Commentary #1 features The Hysteria Continues.

• Commentary #2 features film historian Kat Ellinger.

• "House" (20:54, HD) is an interview with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti. His story begins with real estate, with producer Luciano Martino instructing the writer to create a movie that could be shot at one of his properties. This was the right order for Sacchetti, who was interested in the creative challenge, working from his own experiences. The interviewee is generally honest about his time on "A Blade in the Dark," pointing out its flaws, lightly criticizing Lamberto Bava's direction, especially with the opening scene.

• "Lights in an Empty House" (16:41, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia, who originally worked for director Mario Bava, leaning how to deal with the father before being hired by the son. Time at the villa is recalled, with Battaglia working to give the single location a defined look, contributing to the uneasy atmosphere of the feature. Technical achievements are highlighted, including hand-held camerawork and gore set pieces. Cast and crew are assessed.

• "Don't Go Down the Stairs" (16:34, HD) is an interview with director Lamberto Bava, who details the formation of the project and his task to transform a villa into a frightening space. Casting achievements are explored, with some specific types required to fill certain parts, and the endeavor's ultimate release is celebrated, as Bava is pretty quick to produce box office numbers. The interviewee goes on to praise his collaborators, generally happy with the look and sound of "A Blade in the Dark."

• "The Gothic Slashers of Lamberto Bava" (17:25, HD) is a visual essay by Samm Deighan.

• And Trailer #1 (3:18, HD) and Trailer #2 (3:20, HD) are included.

Theatrical Cut

• "All the Colors of Giallo" (89:01, HD) is an in-depth look at the subgenre, featuring interviews with a film historian and many filmmakers who took part in the movement. The documentary is directed by Federico Caddeo.

• "Behind the Blade" (9:27, SD) is a 2001 documentary on "A Blade in the Dark," featuring interviews with director Lamberto Bava and screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti.

A Blade in the Dark 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Who is Linda? That's the mystery at the heart of "A Blade in the Dark," with the enigmatic woman's name on the lips of the slaughtered, while evidence also arrives in Katia's diary (exposing the woman's love of Snoopy stickers) and a voice on a recording, giving Bruno some leads. Characters arrive and depart in "A Blade in the Dark," and Bava tries to deliver some level of style with his limited budget and vision for cinematic showmanship. Part of the endeavor holds promise, but the helmer can't get the picture to a full boil, stuck handling uneventful storytelling and a lot of filler, which doesn't add up to a captivating viewing experience. There's definitely a destination with the plot, but it's a long, slow ride to a welcomingly nutty resolution.