Mario Bava is the man responsible for starting Italy's horror/giallo genre of filmmaking. His first solo directorial effort, the film BLACK SUNDAY (1960), still stands as one of the greatest horror films ever made. It is also the film responsible for turning actress Barbara Steele into a horror icon. Over a decade later Mario Bava directed a film titled A BAY OF BLOOD (1971) which is considered one of the earliest modern "Slasher" films, a film in which the Friday The 13th franchise borrowed much from. Bava is without a doubt the Godfather of Italian horror cinema and his work has had a major influence on modern horror cinema around the world.
In 1963 Mario Bava directed a horror film title THE THREE FACES OF FEAR, internationally known as BLACK SABBATH (likely to create an association with Black Sunday in the minds of movie goers). Black Sabbath continues that time honored tradition of the "Horror Anthology" film. The movie features three separate tales of terror introduced by perhaps the most well known horror icon of them all, Mr. Boris Karloff. Karloff's function in the film is more than simply being the host. He takes part in the middle story and delivers one his most frightening performances of his career.
Of all of the horror anthologies I've seen, Bava's Black Sabbath is my favorite.
THE PLOTS
The first feature titled "The Telephone" a woman named Rosy receives a series of mysterious phone calls. At first she answers and there is no one on the other end. The next she hears breathing. And finally with the next call a man's voice sounds on the line threatening to kill her. The terror mounts as Rosy hears noises outside, of someone trying to get in. The second story titled "The Wurdulak" centers on a remote village in the dark ages of Europe. A family awaits the return of their father as he pursues a supernatural beast called the Wurdulak across the wilderness. The family is consumed by fear not knowing if their father was killed or successful. If he was killed then they'd be defenseless against the monster. The final tale titled "The Drop of Water" a nurse named Helen steals a ring from a recently deceased woman formerly in her care. Soon Helen begins hearing strange noises and seeing bizarre things. Her guilt begins to eat her alive but there is something else at work too, something sinister.
WHAT I LIKED
Karloff. Boris Karloff is a screen icon and one of the greatest names in horror cinema. But if you aren't a believer in the greatness of Boris, I ask you to give this film a try. The segment "The Wurdulak" is arguably the strongest piece of this anthology (which is saying a lot because they're all very well done). Karloff portrays the father figure battling the Wurdulak off screen while his family awaits his return. When he returns he is no longer the man they knew, but something twisted and monstrous. The introduction to his character is drawn out into one of Karloff's most frightening onscreen reveals. There is genuine darkness in his performance here and harsh cruelty. This is without a doubt one of his most horrifying characters of his career.
The Nature of the Short Story. Horror anthologies are essentially a collection of short stories. And to make an effective short story requires a different set of tools sometimes. The first segment, "The Telephone," takes place in a single room over the course of a single night, building drama and suspense from elements outside the room and what happens when those element enter the room. Simple yet effective. The Wurdulak feature goes in the opposite direction. It has the largest scope of them all displaying a hauntingly beautiful European countryside, a farmstead, and interior set. There's period piece costumes and make-up effects. And the third part returns to a modern claustrophobic setting. By presenting the viewer with three separate stories this film gives one a variety of stories, sights, and scares. This keeps the experience from growing stale.
The Acting and Suspense. What really makes this film stand out among other horror anthology films is the incredible acting by the cast. Mario Bava also demonstrates his mastery of suspense by expertly building the tension quickly and effectively. The lighting and cinematography create an eerie atmosphere. And the make-up effects are striking and memorable. Both Karloff's make-up and the corpse in the final segment are nightmarish and will stick in your memory (they've been in my memory for years).
NITPICKS
Now the nitpicks with this film depend on which version of the film you watch. There are two versions: the original Italian version and the AIP (American International Pictures) version. The AIP version is the only way to hear Boris Karloff's voice as it is dubbed in Italian for the original version. His voice elevates his terrifying performance. But the AIP version rearranges the segments and alters the plot of "The Telephone" to a somewhat nonsensical degree. The AIP version supplies a new orchestral score which takes away from the tension in certain moments. Conversely the original Italian version has Boris Karloff dubbed in Italian and one is forced to watch the movie subtitled. A subtitled movie isn't necessarily a bad thing but it is frustrating, when reading Karloff's lips, that you can tell that he is speaking English. To fully appreciate this film one needs to watch essentially both versions. As of yet there is no U.S edition containing both versions. You need a region free dvd/blu-ray player and the U.K. Arrow blu-ray to get an edition with both. Frustrating...
THE VERDICT
Black Sabbath is one of the best horror anthologies ever made. From the godfather of Italian horror, Mario Bava, we are treated to three expertly told horror stories covering a range of characters, settings, and scenarios. Great acting and excellent production ushers forth three very scary stories. Boris Karloff offers one his best performances ever making this film both frightening and memorable. When it comes to horror anthologies few come as good as this.
Overall Ranking: 9 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10
For more Boris Karloff, Mario Bava, and horror anthologies check out the films below
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