Reflections in Black Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Reflections in Black Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 19, 2025

1975’s “Reflections in Black” has a black-gloved killer on the loose, favoring a straight razor to dispatch victims. Desperate from some type of twist to help distinguish the title, director Tano Cimarosa and his screenwriters also dress the lunatic in black stockings to help add another layer of intimidation and visual storytelling to the picture. And that’s it for invention in the movie, which quickly falls into the routine of law enforcement interviewing suspects while a ghoul periodically takes innocent lives. “Reflections in Black” isn’t inspired work, and it’s a pretty flimsy thriller, becoming more of a community picnic as a plethora of characters compete for screen time. Cimarosa doesn’t aim for thrills here, barely showing enough energy to build a decent mystery as the whole thing becomes bogged down in dialogue exchanges shared by uninteresting people.

Concetta (Daniela Giordano) is a young woman living on her own, visited one night by a mysterious figure clad in black. The stranger is a killer, hunting Concetta with a straight razor, ultimately taking her life in a phone booth before a hapless security guard scares the brute away. On the case is Inspector Lavina (John Richardson) and Sgt. Panto (Tano Cimarosa), who try to learn more about the victim’s unusual life, finding a special photograph of potential suspects in her possession. The men commence their investigation, meeting with people who remain hostile to police interest, and they’re joined by Manilo (Gianni Williams), a law student and amateur detective, working with girlfriend Lara to help solve the case. As the team makes their way through curious personalities, the killer returns to take additional lives as the mystery of Concetta’s life and social connections widens.

Brutality isn’t prioritized in “Reflections in Black.” An opening sequence details the death of Concetta, who manages to escape her apartment, only to be trapped in a phone booth, making her an easy target for a ghoul armed with a razor. She’s slashed up and left for dead, and Cimarosa makes sure to note the murder’s distinctly female appearance, including the use of black stockings, working to tempt viewers with clues to pore over as the investigation begins. Inspector Lavina and Sgt. Panto take over the case, armed with a photograph that clearly identifies other people in Concetta’s life, allowing the screenplay to follow the line of questioning as suspects are tracked down. This includes Mario (Giovanni Brusadori), a salon owner who once employed the deceased, and Sandro (Ninetto Davoli) a swinging ex-boyfriend who enjoys frequenting sex clubs.

“Reflections in Black” is quickly overwhelmed by the large amount of characters to follow, as Cimarosa is more focused on packing as many people into the tale than identifying them and their personal lives in a distinctly cinematic way. There’s really no style in play in the feature, just frequent use of a zoom lens and lengthy, bone-dry conversations about nothing in particular, allowing the movie to frequently stop in full. Not helping the cause is the addition of Manilo, who works with the cops and also ventures into detective duties on his own, needlessly adding to the investigative elements of the picture, which aren’t exciting to begin with. Also questionable is the use of two names for Concetta (who’s sometimes called “Nelly”) and Manilo (who’s also called “Jerry”), which doesn’t add anything to “Reflections in Black” besides more confusion in an endeavor that’s not particularly interested in clarifying the large number of characters it insists on offering.

Reflections in Black Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as "newly scanned and restored in 2K from a 35mm Italian copyright deposit print." Plenty of wear and tear is detected during the viewing experience, with scratches and points of damage found along the way. Detail reaches as far as possible, capturing a sense of skin particulars on the occasionally nude cast, and period costuming is decently textured as wilder outfits appear. Color is appreciable, delivering appealing primaries on fashion and decoration. The blackness of the murderer's appearance is distinct, and skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is capably resolved.

Reflections in Black Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides an aged understanding of "Reflections in Black." Clarity is present with dialogue exchanges, but not always precise. Some mild damage is detected during the listening event, perhaps most notable during scoring and soundtrack selections, which also retain crispy highs. Sound effects are blunt. An English language dubbed track is also included, and due to limitations with the source, periodic use of subtitled Italian is employed to fill the gaps.

Reflections in Black Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Rachael Nisbet.

• "Reflections on Cimarosa" (28:52, HD) is an appreciation piece from writer Domenico Moneti, biographer of director Tano Cimarosa.

• Export Version Footage (7:38, SD) is offered, delivering more scenes of sexuality to "Reflections in Black."

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included on this release.

Reflections in Black Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Reflections in Black" doesn't have suspense, Cimarosa tries to include some saucy content to keep viewers engaged, allowing for a bit of nudity and a few sexual situations to take over the feature. Naked people are certainly more interesting than the central mystery, which doesn't carry any screen power before ending up with a complete cop out conclusion that's wildly unsatisfying, even for a movie that barely has any motivation to build tension. "Reflections in Black" is perhaps best appreciated as a celebration of Italian talent, as multiple actors compete for attention in the offering. And there's a sense of time and place as the tale heads to dance clubs and shows off fashion of the decade with a few of the suspects. The film doesn't connect as intended, but for the most patient, perhaps there are details to embrace while the central crisis of serial murder quickly deflates.