As Arrow continues upgrading its classic Giallo back catalogue, the latest on the chopping block is Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace.
For many this film set the template for a host of classic Gialli throughout the 1970s, inspiring the likes of Dario Argento, Sergio Martino and Lucio Fulci.
In terms of the film, the 4K upgrade of Blood and Black Lace is flawless, with its rich colours popping off the screen. I would argue that this is the most stylish Giallo ever put to screen, and these enhancements only further this opinion.
Extra-wise, the highlight for me was a fantastic and insightful documentary Psycho Analysis, which charts the rise of the film and how it went on to become the template for the Giallo during the early 70s. We hear from the likes of Argento, Lamberto Bava plus a host of Italian critics plus crime novelists who chart the beats established from the books that transfer onto the big screen.
Michael Mckenzie’s visual essay Gender and Giallo is also an engrossing watch, deconstructing the roles of men and women in these films.
Other extras that weren’t available for this review were a 60-page booklet that includes contributions from Howard Hughes and Alan Jones, among others.
Blood and Black Lace is arguably the essential Giallo, and now it has a definitive version.
The 4K of Blood and Black Lace will be released on 18 September 2023 from Arrow.
Bloody Flicks 