Thank goodness for Anchor Bay. These words which I have spoken are true, as Anchor Bay is an obvious godsend. In continuing their long-standing tradition of bringing us immaculate versions of the rarest of the rare, Anchor Bay delivers the Giallo Collection Boxed Set. Four rarely (if ever) seen gems, completely remastered and presented in their original aspect ratios. I decided to dive into the boxset, head first with the title Who Saw Her Die, the second feature from Director Aldo Lado. While not a shining example of the genre, this selection is certainly worth its weight in gold by today's standards, and for fans of the genre it is most certainly not to be missed.

An anonymous young girl is brutally slain, the perpetrator is never found. Flash forward about a year, and another young girl Roberta (who oddly enough looks like the first young girl, hmm) is visiting her father Franco (George Lazenby a former James Bond) in France. We know the young girl's (Nicoletta Elmi of Deep Red and Bava's Baron Blood) fate (obviously death); we just don't know when it's going to happen. There are a few failed attempts on the young girl's life as a faceless killer stalks her (chalk it up to bad timing). The only identifiable factor on the anonymous stalker is a black veil (uniquely, we see the killers perspective through the black veil). The actual sequence, in which the young girl is slain, discovered, and buried, is executed exceptionally well, and for me was one of the highlights of the film. What soon follows is a frantic quest by the young girls grieving father (a famous and respected sculptor) to get to the bottom of his daughter's untimely death. Of course we wouldn't be in giallo territory if we didn't have a shot of that famous black glove.

Like many gialli of the time the plot itself of Who Saw Her Die is extremely convoluted. Solutions are a matter of convenience and you'll probably be able to figure out who the actual killer is almost immediately. Who Saw Her Die is not a reference quality giallo by any means. However, the film does stand ahead of the pack in a few areas, including character development (an element usually missing in standard giallo fare). We do get to know these characters very well, and care for them in a great capacity, which is quite unusual for the genre. The relationship between the young girl and her father is a solid one, which makes her demise all the more powerful, and his vindication, all the more necessary. Also, Lado handles the material well, which disturbingly enough has many pedophile type undertones, including within the church (just take a look at that basketball scene, yowza). Besides, when's the last time you saw a film with a Ping-Pong game in a forest, and what the hell is up with this guys coat? (Now I'm definitely rambling, I apologize).

Who Saw Her Die could be conceived as being quite tame considering its place in the giallo genre. While there is no absence of sex or violence (by any stretch of the imagination), many of the sadistic onscreen acts are left until the final act. The subject matter is disturbing enough, and should definitely aid in allowing your skin to crawl. I always find gialli that directly involve children to be much more disturbing than those without. The simple visual of carefree children at play, unknowingly stalked by a faceless murderer can be quite unnerving. Knowing that an undetermined number of them will die at the hands of this murderer makes it even tougher to bear.

Anchor Bay's presentation of Who Saw Her Die is nothing short of astounding. Presented in an anamorphic transfer in its original scope ratio, the film looks outstanding. There is a slight jump about 40 minutes in, I couldn't tell if it was a missing frame or a digital jump, but it's very slight nonetheless. There is also a light scratch down the right side of the frame about 75 minutes into the film that lasts for less than 5 seconds. Aside from these minor imperfections, you'd be hard pressed to find any other print damage aside from the occasional (and I do mean occasional) speckle. Colors are sharp and solid, levels seem dead on (no pun intended, really), and there are no visible signs of artifacting. This film looks great, considering its age and previous availability (or lack thereof), one couldn't have asked for anything more. With very few signs to show off it's age, Who Saw Her Die could have been shot just a few days ago.

Sound is presented in Dolby Digital Mono and is equally impressive. The film features an incredible score from the always fantastic Ennio Morricone. Music and effects stay balanced while dialogue remains crisp and clear. I have no complaints. This DVD presentation is near perfection.

Extras include a brief yet informative 11-minute interview with director Aldo Lado entitled Death In Venice, and a theatrical trailer that's in decent enough shape. This has to be one of the most non-linear trailers I have ever seen; it's all over the place (basically it's a mess). Extras are rounded out with a brief Bio for Aldo Lado.

Overall, this is quite an impressive presentation from Anchor Bay. I doubt that Who Saw Her Die will attract the casual horror DVD purchase at Best Buy. However, this DVD is essential viewing for fans of the genre, as you're sure to get your giallo fix. Check it out.