This second volume of classic Italian Gothic horror from Severin includes a stunning 4K restoration of one of the true greats of the genre- Antonio Margheriti’s 1964 Danza Macabra (Castle of Blood in the US).
The popular gothic horror genre was influenced by the great success of Roger Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe films and the booming business that British Hammer Studios was doing with The Curse of Frankenstein and Horror of Dracula. But it was in Italy that these films hit their stride with wildly creative, innovative directors like Mario Bava, Riccardo Freda, Antonio Margheriti and others turning out stylish black and white creepy gothic shockers, steeped in eerie atmosphere, and often showcasing the talent of saucer-eyed beauty Barbara Steele.
Castle of Blood (1964). The film was a project begun by director Sergio Corbucci but scheduling conflicts made him hand over the directing reins to Antonio Margheriti. The period film begins in London where the journalist Alan Foster (Georges Riviere) walks into a tavern where Edgar Allan Poe (Silvano Tranquilli) is telling a ghost story to Lord Thomas Blackwood (Umberto Raho). (The film now is so crisp and clear that now you can clearly see, as the journalist walks into the tavern, a crew member reflected in the window waving a small smoke machine). Lord Blackwood makes a wager to the skeptical journalist that he cannot spend the night in his castle which he believes is haunted. “All of those who have accepted my wager- no one has made it out of my castle alive.” Foster is driven there by coach and wanders around the castle by flickering candlelight trying to make sense of some of the strange optical illusions he begins to see. Suddenly he meets the beautiful sister of Lord Blackwood- Elisabeth (Barbara Steele), who has had a falling out with her family and lives there alone. But then the “Night of the Dead” kicks in and visions from the past spring to life. Alan meets a Dr. Carmus (Arturo Dominici) who explains, “Soon the dead will return to relive the last episode of their earthly existence.” He watches in horror as the lover of an unfaithful wife strangles her husband. A shirtless, musclebound stable hand is struck, disfigured and killed by a woman wielding a candelabra. A female sensuously embraces another only to be stabbed to death. A desiccated corpse rises from the crypt to drink the blood of the living. A newlywed couple arrive only to be murdered by the undead. When Alan attempts to physically interfere with the violent events he is scolded, “You are stuck in the present, Foster, and you cannot cross the threshold of the past.” But can he make it out of the castle alive by dawn? The art direction with cobwebbed-filled rooms, shadowy halls, flickering candlelight and forbidding crypts help create this mood of mounting dread. I saw this when I was 14 and loved it so much I sat through it again. This restoration has been in the works for years and it’s phenomenal. The 4K UHD disc is a stunner. This also includes the Blu-ray of the Italian longer version and a separate Blu-ray of the American dubbed version- Castle of Blood. There are many separate audio commentaries and wonderful extras on each disc. From a video essay on the horror career of Barbara Steele, to an actual archival interview with Antonio Marghereti on the film, to his son Eduardo discussing his father’s career, to a sensational overview of the movie by author Stephen Thrower.
Jekyll (1969) An extremely rare, acclaimed 1969 4-part mini-series for Italian TV, written, directed and starring Giorgio Albertazzi (Last Year at Marienbad) as the doomed Dr. Henry Jekyll. Massimo Girotti (Teorema/Last Tango in Paris) plays Jekyll’s old, trusted friend and lawyer who becomes concerned by Dr. Jekyll’s new will, which leaves everything to a mysterious Edward Hyde, especially when he becomes convinced Hyde is responsible for a series of brutal attacks and possible murders. This was transferred from videotape so there’s only so much they can do and the quality isn’t great. It’s extremely talky, but quite a fascinating take on the Robert Louis Stevenson tale of science and duality and a thrill to finally see at all. Cinematographer Stelvio Massi (who would transition to director after this) really gives it a 60s, hallucinatory vibe.
They Have Changed Their Face (1971). Alberto (Giuliano Esperati) is a low-level executive at an auto factory who is called to the top floor and ordered to travel to the remote mountain villa of the owner of the factory- Engineer Giovanni Nosferatu (Aldolfo Celi/Thunderball). Along the way he picks up a practically topless hitchhiker Laura (Francesca Modigliani) and any villager he asks about the Nosferatu’s mansion recoils in terror. When he shows up at the forbidding villa he is greeted in by an alluring, mysterious secretary- Corinna (Geraldine Hooper) who ushers him to his room and informs him he will meet his host at dinner that night. Everything about the house is strange. When Alberto sits on a chair, or uses the shower, the advertisement for the product is piped through the walls. Even the food at dinner has been reduced to a flavorless chemical slurry. Guards patrol the grounds by relentlessly driving around the estate in tiny white cars. Alberto still has no idea why he has been summoned until the ominous Nosferatu offers him the job of president of the company. Something just feels not right about this. And the next time you hear the phrase “bloodsucking capitalist” you’ll think of this film. Directed by Corrado Farina (Baba Yaga), it isn’t every day that you see a dark satire about consumerism mixed with the Dracula mythos. Extras include an interview with the director’s film critic son Alberto Farina and a lively interview with lead actor Giuliano Disperati and editor Giulio Berruti discussing the family-like atmosphere on the set. Short films by Corrado Farina are also included.
The Devil’s Lover (1972). Scanned uncut in 2K from the vault negative is this rare horror tale directed by Paolo Lombardo that begins in the present with three young women who stop by a mysterious castle that is supposed to be the home of the Devil. One of the women is played by the beautiful Rosalba Neri (Lady Frankenstein) and they convince the creepy caretaker to let them spend the night. Neri is transported centuries back in time (while she sleeps) to a country village where she is engaged to good-looking Hans (Ferdinando Poggi) but falls under the spell of a diabolical, cape-wearing stranger (Edmund Purdom) who is really the Devil. Robert Woods plays a swordsman and scoundrel who comes face to face with a satanic, red-hooded apparition. And there are witches and vampires mixed in also. One of the extras is “Lady of the Night: The Feminism of Rosalba Neri,” a satisfying video essay by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas. There is also a fabulous interview with the now 86-year-old Robert Woods who discusses how he came to Italy to appear in spaghetti westerns and then star in several films by Jess Franco, who he still speaks highly of. He’s frank, likable and often hilarious. The original motion picture soundtrack composed and conducted by Elvio Monti is also included on a separate CD.
So, if you have a child, or know where to snatch one- sell them immediately in order to purchase this extraordinary 8-disc box set of Italian gothic chillers from Severin.
Loved reading about those weird Italian horror films.
I think I saw Castle of Blood when I was about thirteen years old.
We were strange kids.