Note: This is the first of five reviews chronicling the masterpieces of Italian horror movies.
Mario Bava’s landmark 1960 film, Black Sunday (AKA The Mask of Satan), may very well be the most beautiful horror movie in the history of cinema. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that Black Sunday is one of the most beautifully filmed black and white features ever set to celluloid–horror movies or otherwise.
Bava himself is nothing less than a legend. Credited for inventing and defining the giallo genre in Italy (murder mysteries involving a figure cloaked in black–the name comes from yellow-jacketed thriller novels that were wildly popular in Italy during the 60’s and 70’s), Bava has made some of horror cinema’s most reputable films: Blood and Black Lace, Black Sunday (of course), Black Sabbath (starring Boris Karloff!) and Twitch of the Death Nerve.
When I was formulating my list for the five most important Italian horror movies, I knew that I had to kick things off with Mario Bava. The only question was, “Which one?” After thinking about it for a few days (and re-watching a couple of my favorites), I decided that the answer was Black Sunday.
Supposedly based on a short story by Russian author Nikolai Gogol, Black Sunday tells the tale of condemned witch Princess Asa. Two centuries after her execution, Asa comes into contact with fresh blood and returns from the dead–bringing the boundless havoc of Satan’s minions along with her. Her goal: Destroy the descendents of her executioners.
There is nothing I can say to prepare you for the sheer aesthetic pleasure of the first five minutes of this film–the mixture of beauty and terror is truly something to behold. If you’ve seen it, then you know what I’m talking about. Although relatively tame by today’s standards, Black Sunday, delivers its menacing violence in an altogether original way–by creating tension using high contrast light and the relief of shadow.
I can’t think of a single thing wrong with this movie. The score is beautiful and used to maximum effect (in a very classical, Hollywood style; characters have their own themes, etc.) Barbara Steele is truly excellent in a dual role, and the sets–Gothic graveyards, mansions, tombs and churches–are in a league all their own.
All in all, Black Sunday is a perfect film. It’s also the perfect place for me to kick off this list. Keep checking back at Horror Society for the next installment: Suspiria.
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