UHD Release – 4/5
Terror-Creatures from the Grave
Director – Massimo Pupillo (Bloody Pit of Horror, Django Kills Softly)
Starring – Barbara Steele (Nightmare Castle, Shivers), Walter Brandi (The Vampire and the Ballerina, The Playgirls and the Vampire), and Mirella Maravidi (Behind the Mask of Zorro, Three Bites of the Apple)
Release Date – 1965
Rating – 4/5
Tagline – “They rise from dank coffins in the DEAD OF NIGHT to inflict AN EVIL CURSE OF DOOM, murdering their victims in an ORGY OF SLAUGHTER!”
It seems like I’ve found myself reviewing a handful of films from the middle to late-60s up into the 70s. It’s not often that I get to review films this old and really look forward to it but it is strange that I’ve had so many to review the last week or so. My friends over at Mondo Macabro sent over the Greek sexploitation flicks Sexomania and Lady Desire.
At the same time the fine folks over at Severin sent me copies of The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can’t Sing. It wasn’t much longer after that I received their Danza Macabra Volume 4: The Italian Gothic Collection box set with even more 60s and 70s fun. I couldn’t wait to check it and went with the first film in the set which is the 1965 film Terror-Creatures from the Grave. Like always, I want to thank Severin for sending this one along.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a lawyer who visits the estate of a doctor after receiving a letter telling him the exact date and time to be there. The letter was intended for his partner but he was away on business. He decided to go in his place because the letter seemed very important. However, once he arrives he discovers that the doctor passed way almost a year ago to the date and the remaining family, his daughter and her step-mother, have just returned to the villa after being away. He soon learns that the doctor died after a horrible fall and was once a spiritualist who thought he had command over the spirits on the property which once served as a dumping ground during the black plague. As he questions why his partner was asked to be there by a doctor no longer living, he uncovers that everyone that signed as a witness to his death has died horrible accidents besides two and soon learns that it was not an accident and his partner was involved with a murder. **Spoiler Alert**
Terror-Creatures from the Grave is a title that I’ve always loved but never took the time to actually watch. Honestly, I love the title and always thought it was a fucking phenomenal name for a horror punk band. However, it wasn’t until I hit play on the film that I realized that I had seen the film before. Many years ago I was sent the Nightmare Castle release from Severin and this film just happened to be one of the special features on that release. I don’t remember watching it but I remembered the film very well which is weird considering I really enjoyed it. It’s a beautifully shot film that does a fantastic job at building tension and atmosphere.
The acting in this one is pretty well done. It is definitely a product of it’s time with some overdramatic performances but that is to be expected from films of the time. The characters are very well written and while many of them are a bit cliched, the cast does a great job at portraying them.
The story for this one is one I really dig. We have a conspiracy around an accidental death, a little bit of history mixed in with the black death, and then the supernatural aspect. It starts out almost like a slasher before switching gears and hitting us with a great supernatural tale set against the fantastic gothic architecture and brooding atmosphere. It works for the most part. A few of the scenes are a bit slow with one or two being just filler that do absolutely nothing for the plot. A little bit of trimming could have fixed the pacing in this one.
Finally, the film has a few deaths with some make-up effects but nothing that stands out. The black death victims look like lepers but they don’t look bad. While the make-up effects are decent, nothing in this regard really stands out or is memorable. Overall, Terror-Creatures from the Grave is the kind of film that I really enjoy. I love well put together gothic tales done in black and white. This one really sells the atmosphere and I adore the story. I highly recommend checking this one out!
Night of the Damned
Director – Filippo Walter Ratti (Crazy Desires of a Murderer, Mondo Erotico)
Starring – Pierre Brice (Star Maidens, The Valley of Death), Patrizia Viotti (Amuck!, Death Falls Lightly), and Angela De Leo (Zorro in the Court of England, Julliette de Sade)
Release Date – 1971
Rating – 2/5
It looks like my trip through 60s and 70s cinema is still going strong after watching Terror-Creatures from the Grave along with Sexomania, Lady Desire, The Odd Job, Negatives, and Sparrows Can’t Sing.
I had just finished Terror-Creatures from the Grave in the Danza Macabra Volume 4 set and decided to keep on going with the next film in the set which happened to be the 1971 film Night of the Damned which was originally titled La Notte Dei Dannati. I want to thank Severin for sending this one over for review!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a man who receives a strange letter from an old friend. Fearing he may be in danger, he quickly makes the trip to his castle where he finds him on his deathbed. He is convinced that he has been cursed but his new bride doesn’t believe that to be the case. He starts to investigate his friend’s property and uncovers something rather strange. Several centuries before, his ancestor had a woman burned at the stake for being a witch and had his family line cursed. Sadly, he soon dies and those close to him starts to die gruesome deaths and are drained of their blood. As he keeps investigating, with the help of the police, he uncovers the truth and the true evil stalking the property. **Spoiler Alert**
Night of the Damned was a new one for me and I was really looking forward to checking it out. Terror-Creatures from the Grave set the bar pretty high for me in regards to Italian gothic horror and, sadly, Night of the Damned did fall short. It has some solid moments but the overall film was a bit of a drag if I’m being honest.
The acting in this is solid enough and is what you would expect from an early 70s film. The cast is a bit dramatic and most of the scenes have that theatrical flair that is a bit cheesy in film but I dig it. It fits the film and makes it feel like a slightly sleazy play.
The story for this one has a lot going on for such a simple plot. The movie is basically a guy is cursed and the curse eventually kills him. However, we have a Countess Bathory angle, so much character development, and a lot of backstory. However, the film’s pacing and extremely drawn out scenes with painstaking dialogue makes the movie feel a lot longer than it really is. The movie could have used a little tighter writing and even tighter editing.
Finally, don’t go into this one expecting a blood bath. The death we do get mostly take place off camera and leave the rest up to our imagination or we get the aftermath which is not that impressive by any standards. Overall, Night of the Damned is a movie that has a fantastic story but just doesn’t live up to it. It’s too long for it’s own good and could have used a lot of editing in my opinion. This is one I would recommend skipping.
The Devil’s Wedding Night
Director – Luigi Batzella (When the Bell Tolls, The Beast in Heat)
Starring – Mark Damon (Crypt of the Living Dead, Stuck on You!), Rosalba Neri (The Girl in Room 2A, The Arena), and Esmeralda Barros (Kong Island, Paid in Blood)
Release Date – 1973
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Satan is coming!”
I get in a good bit of movies to review and they usually fall into two categories which are movies I had seen before and movies that are new to me. I love getting in both because if it’s a movie I had seen before then it means I get to revisit a movie I like or I get to see why I didn’t like it originally. This is just to see if my taste in film has changed or the circumstances during my initial viewing impacted how I saw the film. However, this set has tricked me on two separate occasions. I thought Terror-Creatures from the Grave was going to be a first time viewing for me and then I realized I had seen it years ago but didn’t remember it. Goes to show that we are all getting older.
The third film in the set, The Devil’s Wedding Night is another film I thought I had never seen before but once I hit play I quickly realized that I had seen the film but not in it’s original form. Many years ago I snagged several copies of Elvira’s Movie Macabre on DVD from the FYE near my college for $1 a piece. These unopened films were well worth the price and were the first time I had watched a lot of these movies. Sadly, I didn’t remember the names to a lot of the movies she hosted but it was clear this was one I had previously seen.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a set of twin brothers who split up momentarily so one of them could go the Transylvania in search of an ancient ring with untold power. He makes it to castle Dracula where he meets a young widow and her emotionless servant where she soon seduces him. Sometime later his twin brother comes searching for him but she knocks him out and hides him in the dungeon while telling him that his brother had left sometime ago. He is able to see through her lie and discovers that she is a vampire and uses the power of the ring to lure virgins to the castle to feed upon. **Spoiler Alert**
The Devil’s Wedding Night is a movie that is pretty enjoyable for the most part but it does lag in several scenes. I don’t know why I thought this movie had a different title but do we really intend on watching the movies hosted by Elvira or are we watching it just to see her and hear her horrible puns?
The acting in this one is probably the worst of the set so far. While it’s not the worst I’ve seen, their performances are very stiff and awkward to watch. The characters are pretty cliched if I’m being honest which may be why the cast didn’t bring a lot of energy to their roles.
The story for this one is different especially for a vampire flick centered around the mythology of Dracula. We follow his bride who is using an evil ring to lure virgins to the castle who finds herself in the company of twins at different times… so we could have one person play both parts. It’s solid and works for an early 70s gothic horror tale. With that being said, some of the scenes are a bit bloated which threw off the film’s pacing at random times throughout the run time. I don’t know if these were added last minute or just padding the run time but they stick out like a sore thumb.
Finally, those wanting a lot of carnage and a high body count will be very disappointed. The film has some vampire fangs but that is about the extent of the practical effects. Overall, The Devil’s Wedding Night is a bit of a misleading title but it’s enjoyable. I actually dug it and could see myself revisiting it again. Check it out!
Baba Yaga
Director – Corrado Farina (They Have Changed Their Face, Fumettophobia)
Starring – Carroll Baker (Baby Doll, Kindergarten Cop), George Eastman (Antropophagus, Erotic Nights of the Living Dead), and Isabelle De Funes (Pont Dormant, Esprits de Famille)
Release Date – 1973
Rating 1.5/5
Tagline – “The psychedelic shocker based on the erotic comics of Guido Crepax”
I was really looking forward to this set when I received it for review. Not only was Terror-Creatures from the Grave a movie, at the time, I had always wanted to watch but never had the chance but because it featured the 1973 film Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga is one that I had seen pop up in so many horror groups and message boards but I never had the chance to check it out. This just happened to be the last film in the set and I had high hopes that I would be ending it with a bang.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a photographer who is almost hit by a car driven by a strange woman named Baba Yaga. She soon finds herself in the middle of strange occurrences. Her camera seems to be cursed anytime she tries to take pictures of a living subject, a weird doll given to her by Baba Yaga is doing strange things, and everyone around her seems to be pushed further and further away. She starts to suspect that Baba is a witch and is using her powers to alienate the young photographer so she can seduce or possess her. **Spoiler Alert**
I went into this one only knowing that it starred Carroll Baker and had very little to do with the Baba Yaga folklore. With that being said, this slow burn film didn’t really give me that Italian gothic vibe nor did it feel like I was watching a horror title. I seriously wanted to like it but this was one that had me absolutely bored to tears.
The acting in this one is great even from a cheesy mid-70s campy aspect. The entire cast, aside from Baker, delivers what I would consider a reasonably grounded performance that works very well for a more modern horror title. With that being said, Baker is extremely theatrical in her performance and stands out in every scene she is in. I loved her performance but I feel that she was underutilized.
The story for this one is not enough to hold the viewer’s attention over the full runtime of the film. A photographer finding the most important aspect of her job becoming cursed and her entire life being pushed away as a witch forces her way into her life is a pretty solid story but the way it was shot leaves a lot of room for pointless scenes and a lot of dull dialogue. This is one of those films that I find myself watching the clock more than I do the film. We don’t have enough going on to hold your attention.
Finally, if you want a bloody flick then you will be disappointed. The movie is character driven instead of blood, gore, and atmosphere. Overall, Baba Yaga is nothing like I expected. It feels more like a supernatural drama rather than a horror tale. I seriously wanted to like this one but it bored me to tears. Skip it.
Special Features:
Disc 1: UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman Of Terror
Trailer
Disc 2: Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman Of Terror
Disc 3: Blu-ray (Special Features)
Grave Secrets – Featurette With Director Massimo Pupillo, Actor Riccardo Garrone And Film Historian Fabio Melelli
Selected Scene Commentary With Actress Barbara Steele And Barbara Steele Archivist Russ Lanier
Grave Influence – Video Essay By Matt Rogerson, Author Of The Vatican Versus Horror Movies
The Original Boutique Video Label – Film Critic Alan Jones On Vampix
Italian Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Feature Specs for TERROR-CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE:
Runtime: 90 mins (Italian Cut), 85 mins (U.S. Cut)
Audio: Italian Cut: Italian Mono, Partial English Mono / English Subtitles, Closed Captions
U.S. Cut: English Mono /
Closed Captions
Region: Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
UHD: HDR10
Disc 4: UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett And Troy Guinn, Film Historians/Co-Hosts Of NaschyCast
Trailer
Disc 5: Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett And Troy Guinn, Film Historians/Co-Hosts Of NaschyCast
In The Castle Of Saint Lambert – Interview With Film Historian Fabio Melelli
The Desired And The Damned – Video Essay By Matt Rogerson, Author Of The Vatican Versus Horror Movies
Satanic Orgy Outtakes
Trailer
Feature Specs for NIGHT OF THE DAMNED:
Runtime: 87 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region: Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
UHD: HDR10
Disc 6: UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Martyn Conterio, Author Of Black Sunday, And Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness
Italian Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Disc 7: Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Martyn Conterio, Author Of Black Sunday, And Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness
Countess Rosalba – Interview With Star Rosalba Neri
The Wedding Guest – Interview With Cinematographer Aristide Massaccesi (aka Joe D’Amato)
The Wedding Tale – Interview With Producer Franco Gaudenzi
An Open Letter To Rosalba Neri’s T*ts – Video Essay By Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Author Of 1000 Women In Horror, 1895-2018
Italian Trailer
U.S. Trailer
Feature Specs for THE DEVIL’S WEDDING NIGHT:
Runtime: 84 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region: Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
UHD: HDR10
Disc 8: UHD (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Emma Westwood, Editor Of Bride Of Frankenstein, And Film Scholar Sally Christie
Trailer
Disc 9: Blu-ray (Film + Special Features)
Audio Commentary With Emma Westwood, Editor Of Bride Of Frankenstein, And Film Scholar Sally Christie
Farina And Valentina – Interview With Director Corrado Farina
Valentina, BABA YAGA And Dad – Interview With Film Critic Alberto Farina, Son Of Corrado Farina
The Milan Witch Project – Interview With Actor Luigi Montefiori
A Filmmaking Friendship – Interview With Editor/Co-Screenwriter Giulio Berruti
Trailer
Disc 10: Blu-ray (Special Features)
The Gaze Bewitched – Video Essay By Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Author Of The Cinema Coven: Witches, Witchcraft And Women’s Filmmaking
Short Village Magazine Interview With Corrado Farina And Alberto Farina
Alternate/Extended Scenes
Photo Gallery
Comic Book Comparisons
Corrado Farina Short Films
FREUD IN COLOR (1970)
SCIENCE FICTION IS US (1970)
IT WAS CALLED EARTH (1963)
Disc 11: Quattro Di Umiliani Soundtrack Compilation CD
Feature Specs for BABA YAGA:
Runtime: 83 mins
Audio: English Mono, Italian Mono / Closed Captions, English Subtitles
Region: Region Free
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
UHD: HDR10
