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A Blade in the Dark

Original title: La casa con la scala nel buio
  • 19831983
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 48min
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
HorrorMysteryThriller

A killer stalks a composer staying at a posh Tuscany villa while writing the score to a horror film which has an incriminating clue to the killer's identity.A killer stalks a composer staying at a posh Tuscany villa while writing the score to a horror film which has an incriminating clue to the killer's identity.A killer stalks a composer staying at a posh Tuscany villa while writing the score to a horror film which has an incriminating clue to the killer's identity.

IMDb RATING
6.0/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lamberto Bava
  • Writers
    • Dardano Sacchetti(story and screenplay)
    • Elisa Briganti(story and screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Andrea Occhipinti
    • Anny Papa
    • Fabiola Toledo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lamberto Bava
  • Writers
    • Dardano Sacchetti(story and screenplay)
    • Elisa Briganti(story and screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Andrea Occhipinti
    • Anny Papa
    • Fabiola Toledo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 60User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos48

    La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Macabro (1980)
    La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Anny Papa in La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Andrea Occhipinti and Anny Papa in La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Stanko Molnar in La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Giovanni Frezza in La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Lara Lamberti in La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
    Lara Lamberti in La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Andrea Occhipinti
    Andrea Occhipinti
    • Brunoas Bruno
    Anny Papa
    • Sandraas Sandra
    Fabiola Toledo
    Fabiola Toledo
    • Angelaas Angela
    Michele Soavi
    Michele Soavi
    • Tony Rendinaas Tony Rendina
    Valeria Cavalli
    Valeria Cavalli
    • Katiaas Katia
    • (as Valéria Cavalli)
    Stanko Molnar
    Stanko Molnar
    • Giovannias Giovanni
    Lara Lamberti
    Lara Lamberti
    • Julia Rubinias Julia Rubini
    • (as Lara Naszinski)
    Giovanni Frezza
    Giovanni Frezza
    • Little Blond Boy in Filmas Little Blond Boy in Film
    • (uncredited)
    Marco Vivio
    Marco Vivio
    • Little Boy in Film #1as Little Boy in Film #1
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lamberto Bava
    • Writers
      • Dardano Sacchetti(story and screenplay)
      • Elisa Briganti(story and screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A composer, working in isolation on a score for a horror movie meets two women who used to know his house's former tenant. When the women disappear, he's forced to look into the film he's working on to determine what happened to them, and who's responsible. —Brian J. Wright <bjwright@acs.ucalgary.ca>
    giallounknown murdererupskirtfemale removes her clothesblonde186 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Classic Italian Horror Movie
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Unrated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      There were no sets built for the film. It was all shot on location at one large Italian villa. In fact the movie itself was written to be shot around that particular location.
    • Goofs
      Near the beginning of the movie the blade is seen cutting an adult magazine across the woman's right breast (from our point of view). Shortly afterwards when the composer examines the mysterious cuts in the magazine the slice marks appear across the left breast (from our point of view).
    • Quotes

      Bruno: Tennis balls?

    • Alternate versions
      The Anchor Bay release titled "A Blade in the Dark" is the complete, uncut version of the film, containing all the violence and gore.
    • Connections
      Featured in Occhi senza volto (1994)

    User reviews60

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Very scary giallo
    Okay. A lot of the negative things that people have said about this movie are right on the money. The dubbing is HORRIBLE. To the point of nonsense. The "cockroach" scene is a bit odd. The plot and plot twists are at times predictable and cliche.

    Now the good parts about this giallo. Its f****** scary!!! Some of the slow stalk sequences and cat and mouse chases are absolutely nerve shattering. Lamberto Bava layed on the atmosphere double thick here. The violence is terrifying and brutally graphic. The score is without doubt the best I've heard in a giallo. And I've seen the Argento films and many others.



    Final analysis: Technically speaking its flawed, very flawed, but as a slasher/giallo/horror movie its atmospheric and scary. And my personaly favorite giallo.

    *** (out of ****)
    helpful•13
    5
    • sethputnam69
    • Apr 4, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 6, 1983 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Das Haus mit dem dunklen Keller
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • National Cinematografica
      • Nuova Dania Cinematografica
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 48min
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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