Cinema
Black Sunday
La maschera del demonio
Mario Bava · 1960
Synopsis
Moldavia, in the 1630s. Accused of witchcraft, Princess Asa is executed on the orders of her own brother: a bronze mask bristling with spikes is nailed to her face, and she curses her executioners before dying. Two centuries later, two doctors passing through, Kruvajan and Gorobec, stop in the crypt where she lies and accidentally break her mask; a single drop of Kruvajan's blood is enough to bring her back to life.
Context
The film, loosely inspired by a short story by Nikolai Gogol, “Viy”, is the first officially directed by Mario Bava, who also did the cinematography. Barbara Steele plays a double role, that of the witch and that of her descendant, and the film launched her career in horror. Judged too violent, it was banned in the United Kingdom and was not released there until 1968; in the United States, it was distributed in a toned-down cut under the title “Black Sunday”.
Who it is for
A short film, in black and white, of a violence and sensuality rare for its time, which exists in an Italian version and in an American cut.
Prizes and reception
It founded Italian gothic horror and inspired filmmakers such as Dario Argento and Tim Burton.
Sources for this page 4
The pages consulted to check this page.