The theatrical version was compared with the Italian TV version, both available on the Vinegar Syndrome 4K Blu-ray

Composer Bruno rents the villa of his friend Tony Rendina to work on the music for director Sandra's latest film. He meets the mysterious Katia and later her friend Angela, both of whom suddenly disappear. In addition, Bruno's girlfriend Julia, who was supposed to be the one working on a theater production, unexpectedly shows up. Bruno suspects that the two women have been murdered and does everything he can to find the culprit.

A Blade in the Dark is the second feature film Lamberto Bava has directed on his own and is a respectful nod to the Giallos of the 70s. The film was released in 1983 at a time when the popularity of the giallo genre was already waning. Lamberto Bava relies on familiar set pieces that together create a picture that works quite well. Andrea Occhipinti in the lead role as a film musician, trying to solve a series of murders, is terrific. The murder scenes are bloodily staged and the mystery surrounding the background of the perpetrator is quite exciting. One can mainly blame the film for not having anything new to offer. A classic giallo that came a few years too late.

Two versions on US Blu-ray

In the US, A Blade in the Dark from Vinegar Syndrome was released in a deluxe edition on UHD/Blu-ray. Included in the set are two UHDs and two Blu-rays. The Amaray is in a cardboard slipcase, which in turn is in a thicker slipcase. Included are two versions of the film. The (international) theatrical version and the extended Italian TV version. The latter runs a good 12 minutes longer and features additional action scenes and extensions on Angela's murder.

Some of the additional scenes are superfluous, while others are quite interesting. We learn that Bruno was lied to by Julia, which makes her a potential perpetrator, and we also see Angela fishing the knife out of the pool, which explains why it is suddenly lying next to her in the locker room. Other scenes make Giovanni look suspicious, be it a scene in which he drags a mysterious black garbage bag up the stairs or likes to make collages from newspaper articles of murder cases. In the end, though, the additional scenes aren't really necessary. In the theatrical version, the film works just as well and is also a bit snappier.

The cuts are basically the same as those from a previous comparison we did for the German VHS, though there are probably minor differences and some of the running time information given there does not match that from this report. In any case, the German VHS can be considered uncut, as it is based on the theatrical version.
Vinegar Syndrome has to be credited here for making A Blade in the Dark a first-rate release with plenty of new bonus material. Also included in the box is an interesting booklet. If you like the film, you should grab this one.

Running Times:

Theatrical version: 96:34 min.
Italian TV version: 108:45 min.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

In the Italian TV version (= IT), the three children can be seen at the old house right at the beginning. One of the boys doesn't dare, but is urged by the others to go into the house. There they light a candle to see better. They come to the door. One of the boys slowly dares to go forward and open it.

IT: 1:13 min


[00:02:17][00:03:27]

The theatrical cut (= TC) has the English credits, while the IT shows the Italian credits.

No runtime difference


[00:04:45][00:05:55]

Bruno continues to accompany Tony to the car. Tony says that he likes the music in Giallos and asks about the killer, suspecting that Bruno doesn't know anyway. Bruno confirms that the director hasn't shown anyone the ending yet. Tony says that he will have to watch the movie then. Before Tony gets into the car he comes to talk about the gardener Giovanni. If there are any problems, Bruno can turn to him. Bruno says that he will prepare the tape for Tony.

IT: 51 sec


[00:28:33][00:30:34]

Bruno is further seen getting up after checking the floor for traces of blood.

He walks behind the house and looks into Giovanni's apartment. He can't see anyone there, but Bruno notices the pictures of the naked women on the wall. In the next shot, he is seen earlier running around the house.

IT: 52 sec


[00:31:09][00:34:01]

After Bruno discovers the destroyed tape, he hears a noise. He goes to the window and sees the light go on. Giovanni is dragging a heavy black garbage bag up the stairs. Bruno comes up to him and asks what he is doing. Giovanni apologizes for disturbing Bruno and says that there are only newspapers and old magazines in the garbage bag. Bruno helps him carry the bag upstairs. Giovanni thanks him and Bruno offers him a cigarette. Bruno asks him what kind of guy the previous tenant Linda was. Giovanni says he didn't see her much and she was never here long. Tony doesn't like the house being rented for long and Giovanni is just minding his own business. Bruno still asks if he knows Katia, but Giovanni denies. Bruno wishes him a good night and leaves.

IT: 1:39 min


[00:33:00][00:37:32]

The house can be seen longer after Bruno and Julia have fallen into bed.

Giovanni looks out of the window. He goes back to his table. On a piece of paper he has pasted several newspaper clippings about murder cases. He begins to cut another such article from a newspaper.

IT: 36 sec


[00:46:05][00:51:13]

Angela swims longer through the pool. At the bottom she finally discovers the knife and dives down to get it. She gets out of the pool and runs back into the house.

The clip from the film starts earlier.

IT: 1:27 min


[00:49:35][00:56:09]

The knife in Angela's hand can be seen once again. The killer hits Angela's head on the sink several more times. Angela tries to pull her hand out of the knife.

IT: 14 sec


[00:55:17][01:02:06]

In a POV shot, someone walks up the steps and looks into the house.

Bruno searches the closets and the rooms of the house. He takes a careful look down the drain without discovering anything. With a flashlight, he looks around the basement. He comes to the locked door, which still won't open. Under the door he pulls out a cloth with blood stains.

IT: 1:53 min


[01:15:24][01:24:05]

After Julia leaves, Bruno helps Giovanni carry a heavy box out of his car. When Giovanni opens the box, Bruno asks him if he has never seen Julia in this house before. Giovanni says that he doesn't care who comes and goes in this house and only cares about his job. Bruno asks if he doesn't know that Angela and Katia have disappeared. Giovanni doesn't know and thinks that they must be dead. Bruno doesn't think this is so far-fetched. Giovanni thinks that he must be joking. Bruno thinks he is serious and wants to find out the truth.

IT: 1:18 min


[01:16:54][01:26:53]

After the scene of Bruno and Julia at the pool, we see Bruno driving his car to a phone booth. He calls the director of the theater where Julia works and asks if the show was cancelled because of obscenity. The director doesn't understand what Bruno is talking about. Bruno asks if he knows Julia. The director says that he wants to bring her to justice because she just disappeared on opening night, then hangs up. Bruno gets back into the car and drives away.

IT: 2:12 min


[01:35:47][01:47:58]

In the TC, the credits are in English, while in IT they are in Italian.

No runtime difference