tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post5494977701106250806..comments2024-03-22T14:34:39.101-04:00Comments on MONDO 70: A Wild World of Cinema: Wendigo Meets BLACK SUNDAY (La Maschera del Demonio, 1960)Samuel Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-6631176073491735672010-10-11T22:39:03.995-04:002010-10-11T22:39:03.995-04:00I'll second Troy's recommendation for Plan...I'll second Troy's recommendation for <em>Planet of the Vampires</em>.<br /><br /><em>Black Sunday</em> is in my opinion Bava's second-greatest film. His greatest of course being <em>Lisa and the Devil</em>. But I don't think Wendigo would like that one - it's <strong>very</strong> European!dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-47318731397468223762010-10-11T19:23:38.048-04:002010-10-11T19:23:38.048-04:00"He's very impressed by Bava's direct..."He's very impressed by Bava's direction, set design and cinematography, though even this master of making the most out of limited resources couldn't do a decent bat effect. The film has a strong gothic atmosphere throughout, a visual quality Bava enhances with remarkable events like the swirling sky as Javutich whips his carriage down a dark road. It probably represents the summit of black-&-white horror, from a director who would prove only more masterly in color."<br /><br />Fantastic review Samuel, plain and simple.<br /><br />It is indeed ironic that the film most often mentioned as Bava's greatest was shot in black & white, thought I couldn't realistically imagine it any other way. This is one of the best witchcraft films (BURN WITCH BURN and CITY OF THE DEAD are also formidable entries in this sub-genre) and sustains a vivid almost painterly atmosphere of dread throughout, with the exqusite Gothic underpinning. As you and Troy both mention, Barbara Steele is an extraordinary presence, and is at the center of some of teh film's most arresting visuals. This is one film I can watch any time, any place in unlimited doses.<br /><br />Is it Bava's best? Perhaps. I'll have to give that serious thought. Sveral others, including BLACK SABBATH (especially for A DROP OF WATER and THE WERDELAK) and THE WHIP AND THE BODY push close.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-3886629712376185922010-10-11T09:53:36.502-04:002010-10-11T09:53:36.502-04:00Yeah, this is Bava at the peak of his ability with...Yeah, this is Bava at the peak of his ability with B&W cinematography. The man was a master of the mise-en-scene -- the pan across the graveyard is always a great example of that. I do have to agree that he gets better with color (especially considering his magnificent use of lighting), but this would still be my #3 Bava film. <br /><br />It really is Barbara Steele that, erm, steals the show here. There something deeply disturbing about seeing her face with the deep puncture marks from the mask (psychoanalyze that however you want).<br /><br />Bava also did PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES (didn't check to see if you two have covered this one yet), another film with vampire undertones that isn't entirely in line with the American/British version of the vampire. In fact, I'm trying to think if the Italians ever do many distinctly vampire films at all (I, VAMPIRI...and what else?).Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.com