Murder in Blue Light Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Murder in Blue Light Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 15, 2026

1992’s “Murder in Blue Light” is billed as a thriller, and it involves the actions of a serial killer on the loose in New York City, targeting people for death while decorating crime scenes with grenades. It’s an invitation to suspense and the basics in detective cinema, but viewers are offered more of a fetish film with the endeavor, which spends a large portion of its screen time on the experiences of a prostitute and all the men (and their fantasies) she encounters. “Murder in Blue Light” isn’t chilling in the least, and it’s not a tightly scripted effort, but for fans of oddball Italian offerings with a light coating of sleaziness, it could be entertaining.

During the day, Starlet (Florence Guerin) is a model making a living through commercial work, with marketing executive Bill (Rik Battaglia) encouraging her to meet with clients, asked to submit to their predatory ways. At night, Starlet becomes Sherry, a prostitute catering to clients with specific fetishes, keeping Mike (Joseph Misiti) in a secret room for protection. A serial killer has emerged in New York City, putting Sergeant Flanagan (David Hess) on the case, with the tired, irritable cop trying to make sense of a madman who takes lives and plants grenades at the crime scenes. Starlet has her own problems, dealing with hostile men and the arrival of Ted (Brian Peterson), a client who’s looking for romance, unaware of the double life she’s leading during a time of great concern in the big city.

The killer has a tell, whistling a tune played by a wind-up lighter, which is used by the first victim in the movie. He’s a guy just taking a walk at night, having a smoke while hitting the streets, and he’s killed by a man in a mask, presenting the first mess to ruin Flanagan’s week. “Murder in Blue Light” turns its attention to Sherry, who’s also on the streets, making her way through a community of working girls to her apartment, which is loaded with fantasy options and a secret room for Mike, who watches his boss, ready to jump in if things go wrong. Sherry mostly deals with “naughty” men, and writer/director Alfonso Brescia certainly enjoys sharing her schedule, devoting a significant amount of the film to time with clients, including one who enjoys watching Sherry prance around the room in a maid outfit.

As victims pile up, “Murder in Blue Light” doesn’t pay too much attention to danger. Instead, there’s Starlet’s interactions with Ted, a handsome man with money who wants to spend more time with the model. He’s in love and she’s not ready for that, understandably hesitant to deal with men, especially after Sherry’s encounter with a Japanese client looking to use his own urine for an enema event. Was there something about a killer? Oh yeah, “Murder in Blue Light” tries to get something going with Flanagan’s investigation, but horror isn’t interesting to Brescia, who places more attention on Starlet/Sherry’s dealings with paying customers. Screen tension has no place here.

Murder in Blue Light Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (1.67:1 aspect ratio) for "Murder in Blue Light" is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm original negative." An opening information card also lists the release as the "final edited film version and differs in content, structure, and duration from its more commonly seen home video and television versions. It is the only version believed to survive on film." Fans of the movie are offered a vivid look at cinematographic interests, with color defined throughout the viewing experience. Special lighting elements offer rich blues, and clothing delivers bright primaries. Decorative additions are also lively, along with Sherry's apartment, which is blasted with pink. Skin tones are natural. Street tours maintain cooler hues. Detail is strong, exploring textured skin particulars and fibrous outfits, especially with fetish gear. City events are dimensional, securing street activity. Interiors are dimensional, visiting living spaces and the police station. Delineation is satisfactory, preserving evening activity. Grain is nicely resolved. Source is mostly strong, with a few blips of frame damage and scratches.

Murder in Blue Light Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a straightforward listening event for "Murder in Blue Light." Dialogue exchanges are intelligible, following conversations and argumentative behavior. Some sibilance issues are found along the way. Scoring isn't crisp, but it's appreciable, exploring jazzy moods and funkier pop with tinny beats. Sound effects are blunt but understood.

Murder in Blue Light Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Alternate Home Video Cut (94:50, SD) for "Murder in Blue Light" is included.

• Commentary features film historians Troy Howarth and Eugenio Ercolani.

• "Florence, Ma Cherie!" (21:57, HD) is an interview with actress Florence Guerin, who caught the acting bug while visiting the Cannes Film Festival in 1980 as a teenager, branded "Miss Cinema" in the process. Making connections, Guerin made her way into television and eventually movies, beginning her career in the mid-1980s, quickly getting bored by the parts offered to her before breaking through with better roles. Career highlights are analyzed, reflecting on production experiences and co-stars. The conversation reaches "Murder in Blue Light," and the interviewee shares anecdotes about the shoot, including tales of star power and co-stars with poor eyesight. The discussion takes a sharp turn when Guerin details her experience with a miscarriage while making the picture, electing to work through the pain to finish the job.

• "Blue Light Topaz" (31:33, HD) is an interview with actress Sonia Topazio, who worked her way into acting via modeling, recalling her experience in 1997's "Top Girl," which was being shot concurrently with an adult film, giving the young actress an unusual gig. Theater work soon followed, along with a return to filmmaking, eventually cast in "Murder in a Blue Light," meeting her handsy director, Alfonso Brescia. Despite such behavior, the interviewee describes the set as one of "great professionalism." Topazio examines her relationship with director Dario Argento, ignoring a 30 year age difference, eventually ending up in "The Stendhal Syndrome," tasked with enduring a heavy special effects sequence and Argento's intense anger issues. More career interactions are shared, and Topazio's push into erotic entertainment is tracked, including participation in a Playboy photo shoot.

• "The Highly Dependable Mister Bradley" (25:43, HD) is an appreciation piece by film historian Eugenio Ercolani.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Murder in Blue Light Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Murder in Blue Light" spends its final act working to put a mystery into position, with Flanagan and Starlet getting close to information that could lead to the identity of the killer. The whole motivation behind the madman's actions is too weird for Brescia to handle, and what strangeness manages to break through the dullness of the endeavor needs a lot more movie to explore. Sudden exposition isn't welcome either, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. "Murder in Blue Light" has some passable visual ideas for a low-budget production, and Guerin actually manages to survive the oiliness of it all with her feisty performance. She's capable in a picture that doesn't really know where it's going or what it's doing, with Brescia more attentive to the desires of submissive men than the shock of a murderer on the loose.