NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Shameless Blu-ray (July 2025): Shameless has transferred Massimo Dallamano's "What Have They Done to Your Daughters?" to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2K restoration". We can distinguish no difference from the Arrow Blu-ray that we reviewed in 2018. In fact the running times are exactly the same, also, to the 1000th of a second. It is in 1080P on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It is in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Cinematographer Franco Delli Colli’s (Duck, You Sucker!, The Last Man on Earth, and Rocco and His Brothers) framing and camera movement are dynamic yet purposeful. Wide shots capture the sprawling, impersonal cityscape, emphasizing the protagonists’ isolation within a corrupt system. Close-ups, particularly on the faces of Inspector Silvestri (Claudio Cassinelli) and Vittoria Stori (Giovanna Ralli), convey emotional intensity and determination, while tight shots on objects like the meat cleaver or the motorcyclist’s helmet amplify suspense. The muted color palette of Brescia’s urban landscapes - grays, blues, and browns - is faithfully reproduced, with occasional pops of red (blood, clothing) standing out sharply against the gritty backdrop. Fine details, such as the gleam of the motorcyclist’s helmet or the texture of 1970s interiors, are well-defined, and the transfer minimizes grain without sacrificing the film’s cinematic texture. While minor imperfections like occasional softness in darker scenes may persist due to the original film stock, the presentation elevates the visual experience, making the suspenseful set-pieces and moody atmosphere more immersive for modern viewers.

NOTE: We have added 54 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE.

Arrow provide DTS-HD Master mono tracks - both original lossless Italian and English DUB (both 16-bit.) The score by Stelvio Cipriani (Nightmare City, The Blood Stained Shadow, Killer Cop, Rabid Dogs, Baron Blood, A Bay of Blood) is a standout, blending jazzy, melancholic themes with pulsating, suspense-driven cues. The main theme, with its haunting piano and string motifs, evokes a sense of tragedy and urgency, perfectly complementing the film’s tone. Sound design is equally effective, with the roar of the motorcyclist’s bike and the sharp clatter of the cleaver amplifying tension. The contrast between quiet, dialogue-heavy investigative scenes and explosive action sequences is accentuated by Cipriani’s versatile score, making it a critical component of the film’s atmosphere. While the mono tracks lack the spatial dynamics of modern surround mixes, it suits the film’s 1970s aesthetic, delivering dialogue, music, and effects with balanced clarity, ensuring an authentic and engaging auditory experience. Shameless also add optional English and English (SDH) - but their Blu-ray is region FREE, not region-locked.

The Shameless Blu-ray has supplements. The audio commentary by genre expert Rachael Nisbet (Fragments of Fear - A Giallo Podcast) is a highlight, offering insightful analysis of the film’s themes, its giallo-poliziotteschi hybridity, and the contributions of key cast and crew, such as director Massimo Dallamano (Colt 38 Special Squad, The Night Child, What Have You Done to Solange?, The Secret of Dorian Gray, Super Bitch, A Black Veil For Lisa) and cinematographer Franco Delli Colli. Nisbet’s commentary is both informative and engaging, blending historical context with critical observations, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts. The Unused Hardcore Footage Enigma: Editor Siciliano Reveals All! (runs 22-minutes and is duplicated on the older Arrow release. It remains a fascinating featurette where editor Antonio Siciliano discusses the film’s editing process and rumored unused footage, shedding light on creative decisions and the challenges of balancing the film’s violent and sensitive content. The Interview with Music Composer ‘Maestro Stelvio Cipriani’ runs why of 50-minutes and is also on the Arrow Blu-ray. It is a treasure, with Cipriani reflecting on his iconic score, his approach to blending jazz and suspense, and his collaboration with Dallamano, offering deep insights into the film’s auditory identity. The limited edition serial-numbered O-card with newly commissioned artwork and a reversible sleeve (see below) featuring the original cinema poster add collectible appeal.

Massimo Dallamano's What Have They Done to Your Daughters? is a hybrid of the Italian giallo (stylized murder mystery) and poliziotteschi (gritty crime thriller) genres, a combination that sets it apart from many of its contemporaries. The film’s structure follows a classic investigative arc but distinguishes itself with its dual focus on procedural realism and giallo’s psychological and visual flourishes. Giallo elements include the mysterious killer, psychological tension, and stylized violence, while the poliziotteschi influence is evident in the focus on police procedure, urban settings, and social commentary. The plot alternates between methodical police work - interviews, stakeouts, and forensic analysis - and intense, suspenseful set-pieces, such as a high-stakes motorcycle chase and a claustrophobic parking garage stalking sequence. The Shameless Blu-ray doesn't advance extensively over the 2018 Arrow but does include Rachael Nisbet’s insightful commentary, the slipcase and is region FREE. We appreciate having purchase options.   

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August 2018: Arrow's new Blu-ray is described as a "New 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative". It is in 1080P on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It is in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There is a, pricey, German Blu-ray but we don't own it to compare. This Arrow US transfer looks solid in exporting the film's textures with balanced authentic colors. The image is not particularly dynamic but has a very consistent film-like appearance in-motion. 

Arrow provide linear PCM mono tracks - both original lossless Italian (16-bit) and English DUB (24-bit). The resulting sound is flat but clean providing some depth to a few effects in the film and an another distinctive Giallio-esque score by Stelvio Cipriani (The Night Child, Nightmare City, The Blood Stained Shadow, Killer Cop, Rabid Dogs, Baron Blood, A Bay of Blood). It has some measured orchestral and choir-vocal qualities that help establish the film's Italian genre leanings.  It works very well. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles for the English-language track and standard English subtitles for the original Italian language although, depending on your player - you can mix--and-match in any combination you desire. It is a Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Arrow's supplements include a new audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films and he gives another informative, sometimes humorous discussion of the film, performers, the genre and is always great to listen to. Masters and Slaves: Power, Corruption & Decadence in the Cinema of Massimo Dallamano is a a new 20-minute video essay by Kat Ellinger, author and editor-in-chief of Diabolique Magazine. She explores themes of the film and how they relate to the films of Massimo Dallamano. IUt is at her usual impressive standard. Eternal Melody is a lengthy 50-minute interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani who discusses his excellent score. Dallamano’s Touch is a 22-minute interview with editor Antonio Siciliano and we can actually see 5-minutes of the unused hardcore footage shot for the film by Massimo Dallamano which amounted to some graphic nudity. The supplements include the English-language titles, an Italian theatrical trailer and an image gallery with 35 posters, title-cards and stills from the film. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais and for the first pressing only has an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Mackenzie.

What Have They Done to Your Daughters? has a nasty but effective edge and the case could be made for it as a Poliziotteschi (a subgenre of crime and action films that emerged in Italy in the late 1960s and reached the height of their popularity in the 1970s) or, also a Giallio. The direct translation of the German title is "Death Wears Black Leather" and it does contain a leather-encased, black-gloved killer and the film is backed by the Cipriani score. As the Giallio genre began to fade other Italian directors like Sergio Martino, Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi ventured into the harsh police drama creating a modest distance from obvious Giallio conventions. However, there is certainly enough of a Giallio link to maintain its categorization in the heavily-stylized genre that we love.  The Arrow Blu-ray gives a great presentation with supplements and commentary that promote appreciation. No matter the classification - this is a solid thriller. Absolutely recommended! 

Gary Tooze