"Bava was never known for the strength of his stories -- which may be the single reason he is not better known and appreciated today -- but Blood and Black Lace is actually one of his stronger narratives, a dark mystery building to a memorable payoff. It's one of Bava's most accomplished works, executed with a dazzling, unprecedented use of bright colors and deep shadows (sometimes both at once). The killer wears a very creepy, faceless mask, and mannequins are constantly on display, not to mention the grim, reserved countenance of the models; this gives the entire production a weird quality, which is broken only when the characters meet their maker. The violence is surprisingly brutal for its day, and still has the power to shock, especially given the stoic beauty of the rest of the film." - Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid