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Blade in the Dark (A) AKA La casa con la scala nel buio (Blu-ray 4K) (1983)
The last cry you will hear will be yours!Director: Lamberto Bava
Year of Copyright: 1983
OVERALL: Draw-
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Extras:DISC ONE (Blu-ray 4K)
*The Film - Extended Italian Television Edit (109:15)
(1) Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues (2023)
(2) Audio Commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger (2023)
DISC TWO (Blu-ray 4K)
*The Film - Theatrical/Export Cut (97:06)
DISC THREE (Blu-ray)
*The Film - Extended Italian Television Edit (109:15)
(1) Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues (2023)
(2) Audio Commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger (2023)
"Don't Go Down the Stairs" 2023 interview with director Lamberto Bava (16:34)
"House" 2023 interview with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (20:54)
"Lights in an Empty House" 2023 interview with cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia (16:41)
"The Gothic Slashers of Lamberto Bava" 2023 video essay by film historian and author Samm Deighan (17:25, in English)
Italian Theatrical Trailer (3:20)
English Export Trailer (3:18)
DISC FOUR (Blu-ray)
*The Film - Theatrical/Export Cut (97:06)
"Behind the Blade" 2001 interview with director Lamberto Bava and screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (9:27)
All the Colors of Giallo 2019 documentary directed by Federico Caddeo (89:01) -
Subtitles:English (for Italian), English HoH (for English), English (Italian text) (optional) (both versions)
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Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:2160p24 HEVC
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HDR:HDR10
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Soundtrack(s):English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz/24-bit) (both cuts)
Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz/24-bit) (both cuts) -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:The extended Italian television edit has credits in Italian.
The theatrical/export cut has credits in English.
Extras are in 1080p and are in Italian with English subtitles unless noted otherwise.
Comes with a reversible cover.
Also available as a 7,000 copy limited edition from Vinegar Syndrome packaged in a diagonal magnet box with a 40-page perfect-bound book with essays by Caroline Kopko, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Dana Reinoos. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:DISC ONE (Blu-ray 4K)
*The Film - Extended Italian Television Edit (109:15)
(1) Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues (2023)
(2) Audio Commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger (2023)
DISC TWO (Blu-ray 4K)
*The Film - Theatrical/Export Cut (97:06)
DISC THREE (Blu-ray)
*The Film - Extended Italian Television Edit (109:15)
(1) Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues (2023)
(2) Audio Commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger (2023)
"Don't Go Down the Stairs" 2023 interview with director Lamberto Bava (16:34)
"House" 2023 interview with screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (20:54)
"Lights in an Empty House" 2023 interview with cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia (16:41)
"The Gothic Slashers of Lamberto Bava" 2023 video essay by film historian and author Samm Deighan (17:25, in English)
Italian Theatrical Trailer (3:20)
English Export Trailer (3:18)
DISC FOUR (Blu-ray)
*The Film - Theatrical/Export Cut (97:06)
"Behind the Blade" 2001 interview with director Lamberto Bava and screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (9:27)
All the Colors of Giallo 2019 documentary directed by Federico Caddeo (89:01) -
Subtitles:English (for Italian), English HoH (for English), English (Italian text) (optional) (both versions)
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Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:2160p24 HEVC
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HDR:HDR10
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Soundtrack(s):English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz/24-bit) (both cuts)
Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz/24-bit) (both cuts) -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:The extended Italian television edit has credits in Italian.
The theatrical/export cut has credits in English.
Extras are in 1080p and are in Italian with English subtitles unless noted otherwise.
Comes with a reversible cover.
Also available as a 7,000 copy limited edition from Vinegar Syndrome packaged in a diagonal magnet box with a 40-page perfect-bound book with essays by Caroline Kopko, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Dana Reinoos. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:DISC ONE (Blu-ray 4K)
*The Film - Theatrical/Export Cut (96:33)
*The Film - Extended Italian Television Edit (108:44)
Audio Commentary on the theatrical/export cut by film historians Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth (2023, in English)
English Export Trailer (3:22)
Italian Theatrical Trailer (3:20)
DISC TWO (Blu-ray Copy)
*The Film - Theatrical/Export Cut (96:33)
*The Film - Extended Italian Television Edit (108:44)
Audio Commentary on the theatrical/export cut by film historians Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth (2023, in English)
"Bava’s Blade" 2024 interview with director Lamberto Bava (24:35)
"Lighting the Blade" 2024 interview with cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia (14:15)
"Exploitation Mogul" 2024 interview with producer Mino Loy (15:44)
2015 Q&A with director Lamberto Bava (50:08)
"Gianlorenzo Battaglia Remembers A Blade in the Dark" 2015 interview (19:59)
Italian Opening and Closing Credits (2:13)
English Export Trailer (3:22)
Italian Theatrical Trailer (3:20) -
Subtitles:English (optional; both versions)
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Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:2160p24 HEVC
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HDR:HDR10, Dolby Vision
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Soundtrack(s):English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (both versions)
Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (both versions) -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:The first pressing comes in a limited edition slipcase with artwork by Graham Humphreys, A3 fold-out poster with artwork by Graham Humphreys and original Italian poster artwork, and booklet notes with new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw, Daniel Burnett and Pier Maria Bocchi.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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OVERALL: Draw
The US/Canada and UK editions each have exclusive extras.
GENERAL NOTES:
The film was originally shot for Italian television, and planned as four twenty-seven minute segments; however, the final cut of the film ended up for theatrical release trimmed down to 97 minutes.
Although the 97 minute version became the default cut of the film on VHS and some early DVD editions, the longer version running 109 minutes still existed in Italy and would supplant the theatrical cut on physical media; however, when the early NTSC, PAL, and initial HD telecine of the 16mm negatives deleted frames at each splice point reducing the running time by roughly two minutes to just under 107 minutes. The newer 4K scan restores the missing frames and brings the running time back up to 109 minutes.
The extra footage does not add much in the way of plot development or gore, but it does achieve a more layered, character-motivated approach than the earlier cut. Some of the restored scenes include Bruno making a pay booth call to Julia's boss – casting suspicion on her whereabouts during the murders – more atmospheric night scenes of Bruno exploring the house, a longer build up to the second murder, and several extra red herring bits involving Stanko Molnar as the groundsman, fondling scissors and generally acting suspiciously.
While the extended television version and the Italian theatrical cut ran the opening credits on a still background after the bloody tennis ball stops bouncing, the original export version in some territories ran the credits on a black background while a variation in some territories ran the English credits on the still background. -
CUTS:
- Blu-ray ALL Standard Edition America- Vinegar Syndrome - No cuts - includes the extended Italian television edit (109:15) and the theatrical/export cut (97:06).
- Blu-ray ALL Standard Edition Canada- Vinegar Syndrome - No cuts - includes the extended Italian television edit (109:15) and the theatrical/export cut (97:06).
- Blu-ray ALL United Kingdom- 88 Films - No cuts - includes the director's approved theatrical/export cut (96:33) and the extended Italian television edit (108:44).
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Comparison added by Eric_Cotenas on 02/03/24
Comparison last updated by Eric_Cotenas on 09/04/24UPDATE LOG:
02/03/24: Initial entry.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
09/04/24: Added UK.
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