Film Synopsis
A Blade in the Dark (1983) follows a composer who takes up residence in an isolated Tuscan villa to compose the music for a horror film, but he soon finds himself stalked by an unseen killer as grisly murders unfold around him. As he seeks to unravel the connection between the killings, the film he is scoring, and the villa’s ominous past, paranoia and dread intensify with each new victim. This giallo horror blends shadowy suspense and brutal violence in a twisting study of fear and hidden menace.
A Blade in the Dark 4K UHD, Blu-ray & DVD editions
See which disc extras are included across selected editions.
| Disc Extras | Vinegar Syndrome BD-ALL 4K/US 2023 | 88 Films BD-ALL 4K/UK 2024 | 88 Films BD-B/UK 2015 | Blue Underground DVD-0/US 2007 | Anchor Bay DVD-0/US/OOP 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth | |||||
| Audio Commentary by Kat Ellinger | |||||
| Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues | |||||
| Behind the Blade - Interviews with Director Lamberto Bava and Writer Dardano Sacchetti | |||||
| The Gothic Slashers of Lamberto Bava - Video Essay by Samm Deighan | |||||
| Bava’s Blade - Interview with Director Lamberto Bava | |||||
| Don’t Go Down the Stairs - Interview with Director Lamberto Bava | |||||
| Exploitation Mogul - Interview with Producer Mino Loy | |||||
| House - Interview with Writer Dardano Sacchetti. | |||||
| Lighting the Blade - Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia | |||||
| Lights in an Empty House - Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia | |||||
| Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia | |||||
| Italian Opening and Closing Credits | |||||
| Q&A with Director Lamberto Bava, Moderated by Calum Waddell | |||||
| Biography: Director Lamberto Bava - Written by Tracy Taylor | |||||
| Biography: Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti - Written by Mark Wickum | |||||
| English Theatrical Trailer | |||||
| Italian Theatrical Trailer | |||||
| Bonus Film: All the Colors of Giallo |
Edition and Packaging Notes
- Vinegar Syndrome’s 4K UHD includes a 42-page booklet with writing by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Caroline Kopko and Dana Reinoos. Also available without booklet.
- 88 Films’ 4K UHD includes a booklet with writing by Barry Forshaw, Daniel Burnett and Pier Maria Bocchi; and a double-sided foldout poster. The included Blu-ray is also available separately.
- 88 Films’ Blu-ray includes a poster postcard.
- Blue Underground’s DVD is also available in the “Midnight Movies - Horror Triple Feature” box set with Shock (1977) and Macabre (1980).
- Anchor Bay’s DVD includes an insert with notes by Tim Lucas. It is also available as a “Horror Double Feature” with Macabre (1980) and without notes.
~ Found an error or know of another edition? Submit a correction or release update. ~
Collector’s guide
Compare presentation quality and explore notable disc extras across selected editions.
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Behind the Blade (9:27) -
The Gothic Slashers of Lamberto Bava (17:25) -
Don’t Go Down the Stairs (16:34) -
House (20:54) -
Lights in an Empty House (16:41) -
Biography: Director Lamberto Bava (18 Screens) -
Biography: Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (14 Screems)
| Editions |
Vinegar Syndrome 4K 2023
|
|---|---|
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88 Films 4K 2024
|
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| Extras | Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth 88 Films 4K |
| Audio Commentary by Kat Ellinger Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Behind the Blade - Interviews with Director Lamberto Bava and Writer Dardano Sacchetti Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| The Gothic Slashers of Lamberto Bava - Video Essay by Samm Deighan Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Bava’s Blade - Interview with Director Lamberto Bava 88 Films 4K | |
| Don’t Go Down the Stairs - Interview with Director Lamberto Bava Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Exploitation Mogul - Interview with Producer Mino Loy 88 Films 4K | |
| House - Interview with Writer Dardano Sacchetti. Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Lighting the Blade - Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia 88 Films 4K | |
| Lights in an Empty House - Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Interview with Cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia 88 Films 4K | |
| Italian Opening and Closing Credits 88 Films 4K | |
| Q&A with Director Lamberto Bava, Moderated by Calum Waddell 88 Films 4K | |
| Biography: Director Lamberto Bava - Written by Tracy Taylor Anchor Bay DVD | |
| Biography: Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti - Written by Mark Wickum Anchor Bay DVD | |
| English Theatrical Trailer Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Italian Theatrical Trailer Vinegar Syndrome 4K | |
| Bonus Film: All the Colors of Giallo Vinegar Syndrome 4K |