Black Sunday

This week we are following last week's Mario Bava entry with his arguably most famous movie:

Black Sunday (1960).

To be fair, I have seen this movie before but that was back in the early 90's or so, and I only remembered four things; it's in black and white, it stars Barbara Steele, there is a big metal mask with spikes on the inside and the fact that I liked it. So it was with a pretty neutral state of mind that I sat down and gave it a go.

The movie opens in Moldavia in 1630 with an eastern orthodox inquisitor (those were real I just learned) who is condemning his sister to death for trafficking with Satan. Princess Asa Vajda (Steele) and her lover and accomplice Igor Javutich are executed by having the above mentioned masks hammered on their faces but before the corpses can be burned, a storm breaks out making it impossible to do so. Other methods of burial are instead employed.

We jump two hundred years forward and meet Professor Kruvajan and his young handsome assistant Dr. Gorobec. They are on their way to a conference but are delayed due to a carriage malfunction. Bored and curious, they find Asa's tomb and accidentally release her. Later, they meet the beautiful Katia Vajda (also Steele) and become embroiled in the supernatural horrors that ensue as Asa resurrects her servant Javutich in order to get revenge on her family.

Black Sunday is still a really good horror movie. Sure, it is hammy at times and some of the dialogue is silly, but it was made in 1960 and movies were made very differently back then. Seeing as it is an Italian movie with an international cast, some things are slightly lost in translation as well. That said, it is incredibly atmospheric and actually really gruesome at times. Movie goers back then must have been pretty shocked at some of the imagery, some of which still holds up to this day.

Bava not only shot Black Sunday in black and white, he actually painted the sets black and white as well, to really lean into the stark imagery, and at times, it almost feels like a shadow play. The actors do a really good job and the plot is pretty smart. Nothing just happens, instead a small thing early on can have a big impact later and the movie builds up slowly and with good effect. The story drags a bit in the middle, but not so much as to become boring, and the end product stands tall.

The supernatural elements are interesting and deserves a mention. Asa seems to be more of a witch but her servants behave more like vampires, even though there are no fangs or typical vampire tropes. They are more generically undead than specifically vampires, and I wouldn't have made the vampire connection except for the fact that they use the word in the movie.

So, do I recommend this movie? Absolutely! Every horror fan should watch it but be aware of it's age. Yes it can be a bit silly, but put that out of your mind and enjoy a seriously good horror classic!

That's that and all that. Join me again next time and until then, have a great and safe week!