Watching a lot of Gialli these days, I heard about a film that marked the transition from Hammer gothic films to Giallo, Black Sunday or La maschera del demonio! This is a retelling of a story adapted from Gogol's Russian vampire tale Vij, from which Bava didn't keep much. This is a classic Hammer-style gothic story. What's different? The atmosphere is at once “classic” gothic, but something is a little more disturbing; the image is so beautiful, looks so real. There's a hint of German Expressionism in the looks - in fact, everything here goes through the eyes, through appearances.... What changes above all is the graphic violence: the masks and what they inflict is truly terrifying, as is the witch's rebirth. So yes, the dragon on Iavoutitch's outfit is Kitsch and that's a shame, but overall, it's a real success! It also looks like a member of Deep Purple, reminiscent of Argento's soundtracks ;) The demon's mask, the missing link between gothic and giallo films and later slashers? could be good, even if it's more Hammer than Argento, but you can feel a different touch.

Mario Bava's eye for composition and spooky atmosphere elevate what might otherwise have been another run of the mill Dracula knock-off. This period chiller is rich with beautifully framed gothic imagery -- windswept ruins, foggy graveyards, witches, vampires, villagers with pitchforks -- this movie has it all, along with a few moments of startling brutality. Perfect viewing for halloween season.

It’s got that ancient look to it.

Cool creepy old movie with brilliant use of light and shadow and great atmosphere. I have a crush on Barbara Steele now.

Came upon this gem thanks to Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments of all time. Normally I'm not one for B&W stuff, but this film holds up as a suspenseful thriller.

One of the best Gothic horror (and Italian horror) out there with a perfect use of Black & white, melancholic dialogues and a surprising amount of gores. The very contrasted black and white puts so much emphasis on the actors' beautiful eyes that you can feel their emotion with their stares alone. It also works very well with the gloomy decors. There is just one short scene filmed differently (with a regular black and white) that took me out for two minutes. There is a lot of old school special effects there, some may feel outdated but they are still captivating and don't spoil the creepy atmosphere.

It is sad to say that this old black and white movie from 1960 is still better than most of the offerings that I see on Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu currently. This film has neat old, spooky black and white photography and sets. Mario Bava is a great atmospheric director and was ahead of his time. Barbara Steele usually puts on a good show and does in this one. What cracks me up about these old movies is that they let the villain, usually a witch or evil wizard, ramble off this long curse upon the village and it's people instead of quickly dispatching them. It is worth a watch.

Upon first glance of the title, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Black Sunday was another Tyler Perry/Madea movie to ignore, but no, it's one of the great successes of the Italian Master of the Macabre, Mario Bava. I'll be honest, a lot of this film's plot and setting is heavily inspired by classic Dracula - the old European castle/village, a musty crypt, the characters that become enthralled by a monster, the pursuit of a beautiful woman, a creature in repose in a coffin, it's pretty familiar stuff. So where does Bava distinguish his film? It's in the atmosphere, pacing, and visuals; few films have so clearly captured the Gothic tone or aesthetic as well as Black Sunday, particularly in the initial establishment of the premise. There's a great balance of mystery, tropes, solemnity, and set design that creates a totally convincing horror narrative. There are weaknesses as the film ventures into almost Scooby-Doo territory in the last half-hour or so as the plot becomes more cohesive, with a series of hidden passageways and the "gang getting split up" to fall through trapdoors, but the early segments are so convincing that it's easy to overlook the later problems for the sake of enjoyment. However, the slow pacing and some of the inconsistencies may be a turn-off for some. Also, they couldn't just wait for it to stop raining to burn this witch? Nah, just confine her to a crypt with the very real potential to revive instead of planning the witch BBQ for next Tuesday. (3.5/5)

The Mask of Satan it's absolutely a true gothic horror masterpiece it's really beautiful and scary experience by the great Mario Bava.

1001 movies to see before you die. This felt like a Hammer movie, B, melodramatic, but still entertaining. The direction was good, just the story was weak. Had there been a good screenplay, this could have been better.

Mario Bavas debut Black Sunday is a stylish, beautifully shot Gothic Horror film, steeped in tons of character. It is well acted and has superb special effects for its time and can be quote frightening at times, it also has an unusual amount of gore for when it came out. Bava was clearly ahead of the curve here as he was several other times in his career. If you like horror, black and white, or anything of the sort this is a must watch.

A pure gem ! Maybe the best Movie made by the italian director. Cinematography is awesome and so is the story and the atmosphere. Not to be missed. If you have to watch just one Bava, watch this one.

A superb piece of Italian Gothic horror. Mario Bava's masterpiece featuring Barbara Steele at her finest, playing two central characters. The still photographs from the film producing one of the most iconic Gothic Horror pictures to exist: Barbara Steele with her two hounds. A veritable MUST see if, like me, you are a huge fan of Gothic/Folk/Horror.

Considering how highly its regarded I expected more. Its a nice classic that deals with a witch and satanism. The lighting and shadows were incredible in this movie as they were effectively used to tell the story of good vs bad.

Outstanding horror and classic Hollywood film. The plot is exciting and keeps you at the edge of your seat. It takes the classic vampire story, similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and gives it a unique spin.

The cinematic influence of Bava's classic is immeasurable, but the film is also dated. It has a rich foundation of themes such as womanhood, social ostracization, and moral duality that would benefit greatly from an added layer of complexity and nuance.

Between a 7/10 and 8/10, Bava and his crew's employment of unique camera angles, heavily atmospheric sets and startling moments of violence combine to create a trendsetting picture that has influenced generations of filmmakers (including Martin Scorsese and Tim Burton).

If the story isn't quite so thrilling, the visuals certainly are. A tour de force of gothic cinema.

A prime example of craftsmanship elevating routine material, Black Sunday features a terrific Barbra Steele, excellent direction from Mario Bava, and some of the most unsettling imagery for it's time, making it a must watch for horror fans and lovers of thick, gothic atmosphere, even with the lack of story.

Black Sunday centers on a Satanic witch (Barbara Steele) who is brutally executed in the memorable opening scene, but not before she lays a curse on all around her. She's unwittingly resurrected as a vampiric powerhouse ages later and the usual repercussions of this immediately begin to play out. Black Sunday's plot isn't anything to write home about, but director Mario Bava infuses every frame with stark contrast, moody atmosphere, and gothic style. It's no wonder that this film made celebrities out of both him and Barbara Steele.