“Black Sunday” is a delightful horror experience that’s truly unlike anything else I’ve seen. I’ve had the pleasure of watching classy, old-school horror movies like “Psycho” and the Universal Monster movies (among others) before, but I’ve never seen a black-and-white horror movie that’s as elegant as those movies while also being as violent and gory as a modern-day entry. The story itself, involving witches, resurrections and vampires, is truly fascinating in a fireplace-at-night kind of way, managing to establish an ominous, fairly oppressive atmosphere that enraptures the audience from the get go. The sets and costume design are just gorgeous while the cinematography is absolutely pitch-perfect: Every shot is perfectly framed, the black-and-white photography is striking, and the score could easily be used as a Halloween-night soundtrack without any changes. Barbara Steele steals scenes left and right in dual roles, while director Mario Bava’s camera absolutely loves her, and she manages to stand out even among all the movie’s other attributes. Pop this on late on night and you’ll have a blast.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
Pop Culture Thoughts 
Awesome Bava movie — he is another one of my idols. All his movies are interesting. I do prefer his color movies — he is a master at playing with primary colors! Anyhow, you are right about Barbara Steele — she is hell bent (no pun intended) on stealing the show! 🙂
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I really should watch more of his stuff, do you have any recommendations by any chance?
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Rating Bava (in order of preference):
GREAT
Rabid Dogs (1974) — Nasty, Tarantinesque thriller, not for the fainthearted
Kill, Baby, Kill (1966) — Ultra-creepy ghost story ala The Haunting (1963)
The Whip and the Body (1963) — Gothic thriller, like a perverted version of Corman’s House of Usher
Black Sabbath (1963) — Spooky horror anthology
Black Sunday (1960) — Delicious witch’s brew
Blood and Black Lace (1964) — Unofficial father of the Italian Gialllo
The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963) — Stylish, Hitchcockian thriller
GOOD
Erik the Conqueror (1961) — Action-filled Viking adventure
A Bay of Blood (1971) — Flawed, but influential slasher thriller
Lisa and the Devil (1973) — Fun, surreal occult thriller (P.S. Avoid the re-edit U.S. version called House of Exorcism)
Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970) — Psycho thriller ala Peeping Tom (1960)
Knives of the Avenger (1966) — Fun Viking remake of Shane (1953)
Planet of the Vampires (1965) — Fun B-movie in glorious Technicolor
JUST OKAY
Schock (1977) — Schlocky ghost story
DIDN’T LIKE
Baron Blood (1972)
Five Dolls for an August Moon (1970)
Danger: Diabolik (1968)
Roy Colt & Winchester Jack (1970)
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Wow, thanks so much! I really appreciate that, I’ve added like 10 movies to my to-watch list thanks to this comment alone! 🙂
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BTW, there are two versions of Rabid Dogs. The original theatrical cut is called Kidnapped. Rabid Dogs is the re-edited version, supposedly closer to Bava’s original vision.
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