In this proverbial line of work, I am priveleged to read lots of horror reference books...and I mean lots of them. Quite often, books tout themselves as being "complete" and "comprehensive", but fall more than a bit short of that particular mark. Not so with "Blood and Black Lace", which is quite likely the last book you'll ever need on the subject of Italian Sex and Horror Movies.
In any event, it's definitely the most complete book on the subject I've ever seen, and, like its cinematic namesake, it is the prime example of its "genre". The book is encyclopedic in structure, and covers not only the more accessible works of well-known giallo/splatter/polizia stalwarts like Argento, Bava, Fulci, and Deodato, but also the really obscure classics...including literally hundreds of titles that have likely slipped under the radar of even well-informed European Exploitation Cinema buffs.
Keep in mind that this book really does stick to its subject, practically never veering off into other aspects of Italian horror films such as cannibals and zombies. There is a bit of inconsistency, however. For example, Argento's "Tenebre" and "Opera" are covered (and others), but the book generally ignores his more supernaturally-themed films such as "Suspiria" and "Inferno". However, "Phenomena" is covered...a film, with its portrayal of psychic abilities, seems like the kind of film the authors would have left out of this book. If "Phenomenon" is representative of giallo, despite its supernatural thriller trappings, then so are "Suspiria" and "Inferno", which all have similar "giallo-esque" elements...the most important of which being the presence of an enigmatic "black-gloved killer" who menaces pretty women. This is a minor quibble, though, and is easily forgiven based on the numerous strengths of the book.
For the most part, the listings in "Blood and Black Lace" are well-written, brief, and concise, and most include fairly complete cast and credit information for all titles (where available), as well as lists of alternate titles by which these films are known in different countries/markets. It's frequently amusing to note the contrast of titles in different countries...some countries seem to focus on the perverse sexual elements of the film and name it to reflect those elements. The most exciting feature in the book, to me, is the proliferation of excellent poster and/or video-sleeve artwork for the films in question. The artwork is, almost without fail, a perfect (if a bit obtuse) representation of the "feel" of the film. The authors and editors (and fact-checkers) have truly done an excellent job seeking out all of this stuff. It must have taken years!
Luckily for us, the good folks over at Darkside Magazine have done the work so we don't have to. They have provided a book that is excellent to look at, fun to read, and extremely important in its own way. According to their site, this book is no longer available in shops (unless you find a copy in great condition tucked away in a dusty comic shop somewhere, like I did...), but they say that the book is still in print and readily available through their site, and an updated reprint is planned. Good news!
Highly recommended! Find this one and read it! Now! Go, you idiots! Do it! "Blood and Black Lace" gets the Atrocities Cinema Essential award.
In this proverbial line of work, I am priveleged to read lots of horror reference books...and I mean lots of them. Quite often, books tout themselves as being "complete" and "comprehensive", but fall more than a bit short of that particular mark. Not so with "Blood and Black Lace", which is quite likely the last book you'll ever need on the subject of Italian Sex and Horror Movies.