8. Blood And Black Lace (1964)
Famous horror film from the Italian Master of the genre - Mario Bava. Generally regarded as the most famous and influential Giallo of all time that set the template for the slasher/body count movie. The action is largely set in an Italian fashion house. Isabella, a model is murdered. It is revealed that she kept a diary detailing all the sinful deeds that go on in the fashion house - abortion, corruption and blackmail. The murderer really wants the diary and kills anyone who may have it. An inspector tries to figure it all out whilst the killer keeps murdering. Eventually a sordid tale of extortion and death comes out in the wash and the killer is revealed by Max - the co owner of the fashion house who was involved up to his ear in shady shenanigans. The pigeons come home to roost. Sei donne per l'assassino is the Italian title for Blood and Black Lace. It translates as Six Women for the Killer which is a crude but accurate title - the film is perhaps one of the very first movies to be based upon brutal, graphic murders which are set pieces. The murder scenes are a chance to show filmic ingenuity by Bava in their execution and style. It is definite progenitor for the slasher movie and also inspired the Italian Giallo picture. Bava's use of light and colour in the film is amazing. It just looks like no other film of its time - its techniques and tricks are very advanced. Bava had a minuscule budget to play with and he gets the value of every last penny in the production. Bava would go on to direct other very influential Euro horror movies like Twitch of the Death Nerve and Kill Baby Kill. But I have chosen Blood and Black Lace for this list because it is so innovative and inluential.