Classic Bava. As always, his use of colour is just terrific. A must see for any fans of giallo films.

That Mario Bava was making a gory slasher in 1964 is eye-opening. That Blood and Black Lace dares use Technicolor instead of black and white is bold. This lurid tale of models being bumped off one by one by a faceless killer, destroying their beauty, but then posing them beautifully, is shot with Bava's usual stark colors and is a feast for the eyes. The approach is a little like discovering a new dimension. Horror tropes like the old sign swinging in stormy winds are old standards from black and white, but Bava is like, what if there were another dimension besides light and shadow? As an aesthetic piece, it's potent. Its weaknesses lie in the dialog and acting. I may be reacting to the dubbed voices (Italians do love their international casts and figure out the voices later), but my eyes tended to gloss over when the cops were talking. Not that it's a bad murder mystery (Columbo would have gotten to the bottom of it faster though, seems tailor made).

Hooptober X

A Mario Bava Film, Countries: Italy

Lush colors and dark intrigue, a great key Giallo film. The store chase sequence with flashing colored lights, the killer getting lost in the strobe and shadows, filled with suspense.

The plot is juicy, every character scummy in their own suspect way. The way the camera quickly cuts to each person's face when a piece of evidence is revealed is great.

Sick kills, and bright red blood.