Black Sunday (1960)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Mario Bava's classic features Barbara Steele in the role of a witch who is put to a violent death but before that she places a curse on the people killing her. Flash forward two hundred years as the witch is released from her tomb and sets off for vengeance.
BLACK Sunday, also known as THE MASK OF Satan, has been released in various versions over the years but once you see it uncut you'll understand why it was cut! I say that because the film was quite shocking for 1960 and it's easy to see why so many people were terrified of it when it was released so seeing the uncut version would have probably led to some real nightmares. This Bava classic can be enjoyed today in its uncut version and it's certainly a beautiful film to look at with some of the most iconic images in horror history.
Of course, the most famous image happens at the start of the picture when Steele gets a large spiked mask hammered into her face. Even after all these years there's no doubt that this sequence still packs a nice little punch. What I've always loved most about the picture is its incredibly dark atmosphere that Bava paints with some masterful cinematography and of course his use of shadow and fog. As you watch this movie you can't help but feel as if you're actually in the real locations and that you're surrounded by the various evil forces that are at play.
It also doesn't hurt that you've got some very good performances throughout the film with of course Steele leading the way. Her look perfectly captures the evilness of the main character but she also does a fine job in her other role. The two characters are so different yet the actress perfectly pulls them off. The film also benefits from a strong music score, which helps push that atmosphere. BLACK Sunday has been copied many times over the years but it's yet to be matched.
