When it comes to Italian horror cinema or 'Giallo' films (spaghetti horror as I like to call them) there are very few actors and actresses that have become iconic. One of the few who has become such an icon is Barbara Steele. Best known for the Mario Bava directed classic BLACK SUNDAY, Steele is one of those rare actresses who can encompass both beauty and horror all in the same shot. If you're unfamiliar with Barbara Steele it's okay. Her horror catalog is merely a handful of films from the 1960's and if you haven't ventured into foreign horror it's likely you wouldn't know of her. But once you do become acquainted with her work you'll never forget her.
CASTLE OF BLOOD is another of Barbara Steele's horror films. Also known as Danse Macabra (Dance of Death), Castle of Blood is a black and white film directed by Sergio Corbucci and Antonio Margheriti. Sergio Corbucci gave us the original DJANGO as well as a number of other great spaghetti westerns. And Antonio Margheriti would go on to direct Barbara Steele in yet another horror film, the Long Hair of Death, and work on other classic horror films such Andy Warhol's Frankenstein and Dracula. It goes without saying that the right people were behind the creation of this seldom mentioned horror classic.
THE PLOT
Alan Foster is a London journalist in the mid-1800's. He has finally met one of his favorite writers, Edgar Allan Poe, in a London pub and is determined to interview Poe for his paper. Foster scoffs when Poe tells him that his stories of murder and the supernatural were all true. Foster refuses to believe that anything supernatural could exist. A nearby listener offers to show Foster proof that the supernatural does indeed exist. This listener wagers that Foster can't last the night in an old castle just outside of London. Foster takes the bet and is driven out to the castle. There, he holds up in an old study for the night. Then someone steps out of the shadows, a beautiful woman. As Foster takes her hand his night begins to spiral out of control down a hellish path of blood, murder, and resurrection.
THE GOOD
Atmospheric. Castle of Blood was shot in black and white and on sets reminiscent of classic Universal Horror films i.e. gnarly leafless trees looming over mist shrouded graveyards, large dark stone crypts, and massive cobweb covered castles. The film captures everything great about 1930's horror films and takes it that extra step further. Explicit onscreen violence, overtly sexual content, as well as regenerating corpses and disturbing horrific images. If I could change anything about those classic 1930's monster movies I'd want them to have everything I listed above. This aspect of the film gives it a distinct experience, a novelty that I've seen seldom in horror.
Edgar Allan Poe. This film contains a number elements that make it a worthwhile watch. One of them is the take on Edgar Allan Poe. Many classic horror films have been the subject of his stories. Here he himself is one of the subjects. The film attempts to add to the myth and mystique surrounding the author suggesting that the event depicted in the film is only one of many similar events experienced by Poe. By doing so the filmmakers create a whole other layer to the story.
I mean, c'mon, how crazy would that be if everything Poe wrote about was actually true?
THE BAD
This isn't a fault with the film but rather a personal preference in that there could've been more onscreen blood. Really, for a movie named Castle of Blood there wasn't much blood in it. I really enjoyed the overall presentation of the film from beginning to end. But comparing it with Barbara Steele's earlier film, Black Sunday, this film feels a bit toned down in the gore department. One of the intrigues to spaghetti horror films are seeing the added levels of explicit content in these early films at a time when mainstream Hollywood horror was relatively tame. The lack of blood may be intentional though as the majority of the characters we spend our time with may or may not be real. Again, nothing at fault with the presentation, I only wish it had reached Black Sunday levels of gore.
THE VERDICT
Castle of Blood is a creepy atmospheric ghost story in the style of the classic horror films of old. The black and white presentation enhances the overall experience along with the extra degrees of violence and sexuality thanks to it being a foreign film. Barbara Steele once again wonderfully embodies an alluring and at the same time frightening persona. The inclusion of Edgar Allan Poe as a character in the film provides great food for thought and another layer of intrigue to the story. If you're a fan of classic horror from the 1930's and 40's give this one a try. Wondrous and frightening sights abound sure to set your heart racing for many different reasons.
Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10
(above average. worth the price)
Nude-O-Meter: 4 out of 10
If you like Castle of Blood then check out this other Barbara Steele movie below!
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