With this exercise in style and mayhem, Mario Bava managed to set the standards for a whole new sub-genre in horror, the "giallo". It is basically a very simple detective story with added violence and gore and, even if I admire this movie greatly, it is far from perfect. The acting ranges from amateurish to wooden (with Bartok and Mitchell as exceptions - they deliver their lines with some conviction even when what they are saying is absolutely ridiculous). Just take a look at one ham-actor having what must be one of the least credible (and most funny) epileptic attacks in movie history. Almost everyone is atrociously dubbed. The pace is erratic and, when the story concerns itself with the policework, close to non-existent. However, these are minor quibbles since the formula of the giallo is all about stylish murders committed (mostly) against beautiful females. And Bava, as a former cinematographer, had an eye for stylish visuals few others could measure up to. The sets are lighted with stark contrasts between light and darkness, where pools of color highlights certain details. It is as far removed from the danish Dogma concept as you'll ever get. Just look at the opening scene, gorgeously shot with gaudy colors. You won't be able to take your eyes from the screen as long as Bava treats his locations and actors as a canvas to paint on. Unfortunately, the scenes were his approach would do enormous benefit, the police investigation scenes, are dreary both from a dramatic AND visual standpoint. But elsewhere this movie is a visual treat! And the violence is strong when you know that this movie was made in the early sixties. If "Psycho" seems relatively tame by todays standards, "Blood and black lace" still packs a punch with certain murder set-pieces. So do watch this if you want a piece of movie history and don't mind that most of the actors have a range from A to B.
Review of Blood and Black Lace
