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A Blade in the Dark

Original title: La casa con la scala nel buio
  • 19831983
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
A Blade in the Dark (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
5.9/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lamberto Bava
  • Writers
    • Dardano Sacchetti(story and screenplay)
    • Elisa Briganti(story and screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Andrea Occhipinti
    • Anny Papa
    • Fabiola Toledo
  • 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
    • 63User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos52

    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    Macabre (1980)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    Anny Papa in A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    Andrea Occhipinti and Anny Papa in A Blade in the Dark (1983)
    Stanko Molnar in A Blade in the Dark (1983)

    Top cast

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

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    Storyline

    Edit

    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 reviews63

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Interesting Giallo!
    To begin with I was a real sap for liking all that commercial crap that the everyday world is being exposed to watching. That was until "A Blade In The Dark" caught my attention.

    This was the first film that marked my entry towards Italian horror and what an entrance it was I might add.

    The opening sequence is a real knockout not to mention dead scary (even the mere thought is enough to give me nightmares). The only con was the fact the acting was tad bit weak, but at the same time exceptional.

    I won't spoil the ending though, but it could've been a slightly improved with a cat and mouse chase that concludes in a bit of a bloody showdown with hero and killer. The highlight in the film for me though was Lara Nazinsky, who plays Julia (the composer's girlfriend) what a firecracker she is.

    Though not many would agree about this film being good, it was interesting to know that it was directed with little budget with many of the actors working for nothing and considering Lamberto Bava's credibility of being son of horror legend Mario Bava.

    Worth a look.
    helpful•5
    1
    • Khwaj
    • Feb 25, 2002

    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
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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