"You will never escape my vengeance, or Satan's!"
Black Sunday (La Maschera del Demonio) (1960)
Directed by Mario Bava
Directed by Mario Bava
Gothic masterpiece from maestro Mario Bava that provided the breakthrough role for Barbara Steele, one of the great figures (and faces) in the history of horror. She plays the dual role of a virtuous young princess and a vengeful witch reincarnated as a vampire, registering strongly as both ingénue and monster.
The luminous monochrome cinematography is by Bava himself and is truly stunning. You should definitely try to see it on the new Kino Blu-ray if possible. The film may not have the most coherent narrative (there are a few continuity glitches here and there) but it has moments of visual power and beauty to rival anything in Jean Cocteau.
If you want to know more about the fascinating life and career of Mario Bava, hunt down Tim Lucas' massive illustrated biography Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark. It not only covers the director's life but provides cogent analysis of his massive filmography. It's one of the great film books.
The luminous monochrome cinematography is by Bava himself and is truly stunning. You should definitely try to see it on the new Kino Blu-ray if possible. The film may not have the most coherent narrative (there are a few continuity glitches here and there) but it has moments of visual power and beauty to rival anything in Jean Cocteau.
If you want to know more about the fascinating life and career of Mario Bava, hunt down Tim Lucas' massive illustrated biography Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark. It not only covers the director's life but provides cogent analysis of his massive filmography. It's one of the great film books.
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