Movie Review: Black Sunday/The Mask of Satan (1960)

Black Sunday/The Mask of Satan (1960) directed by Mario Bava

Princess Asa Vajda (Barbara Steele) was accused of witchcraft along with her consort Javutich (Arturo Dominici). The townsfolk tried to burn them both after they nailed masks of Satan on their faces. A rain storm came (or was summoned by the Devil?) and prevented the burning. Asa laid a curse on the town and the royal family that she would be revenged for generations to come. Asa was buried in the family crypt with a cross over her sarcophagus. Two hundred years later, two doctors are traveling to a medical conference and stop off in the town. Before they reach the inn, they travel along the road supposedly haunted by the witch. Their carriage has a minor accident, forcing the coachman to make some hasty repairs. The doctors explore the area, going into the decaying chapel and discovering the crypt. Asa's tomb has a window that shows her masked face with the cross looming over her. The younger doctor Andrej (John Richardson) is called away by the coachman. Older doctor Kruvajan (Andrea Checchi) is attacked by a large bat, forcing him to swing wildly at it. His swings eventually fell the bat but also destroy the cross and the window. He cuts himself on the glass when he removes the mask from the corpse, revealing a desiccated face without eyes. He leaves as drops of his blood drip onto the face.

Meanwhile, brother and sister Constantine (Enrico Oliveri) and Katia (also Barbara Steele) try to comfort their father (Ivo Garrini) who worries about the 200th anniversary of the curse. They live in the Vajda castle which has lots of creepy passages (including some hidden ones) and portraits of Asa and Javutich. It isn't long before the revenge plan begins in earnest as Asa is slowly restored to life and summons Javutich from his grave to help.

The movie makes the most of its low budget and black and white photography. Characters hide in shadows or melt into the scenery, creating an ongoing expectation and tension for the viewers. Some of the special effects are amazing even now. Steele gives a good dual performance as the evil Asa and the innocent Katia. Naturally a romance springs up between the young doctor and Katia, giving the movie some conventional grounding (and on-the-nose musical scoring). Bava's direction is assured and impressive. He went on to make a lot of horror films, which I may try some more of (I've already reviewed Black Sabbath, which is three short films strung together, not some remake or refashioning of Black Sunday).

Recommended, especially for horror fans.