Category Archives: Vampire Films
THE MOTH DIARIES
THE MOTH DIARIES-Canada/Ireland-2011
Lily Cole as Ernessa
Sarah Gadon (m) as Lucy
Sarah Bolger as Rebecca
Judy Parfitt as Mrs. Rood (Image not from film)
Scott Speedman as Mr. Davies
Directed by Mary Harron
Screenplay by Mary Harron
Based on the novel by Rachel Klein
This is a tough one. I see The Moth Diaries not as a traditional vampire tale; i.e. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu or Dracula by Bram Stoker; in which the vampire appears almost out of nowhere and begins to slowly insinuate its way into the lives of its victims. I may be wrong; and I am certain there will be enough eager people out there to tell me that I am; but I saw The Moth Diaries as a loss not of life, but of friendship. An alternate title could have been “How to Lose Your B.F.F. to the Pale Chick across the Hall”. Rebecca (Sarah Bolger, Once Upon a Time, Crush), Lucy (Sarah Gadon, Antiviral, Cosmopolis), Charley (Valerie Tian, 21 Jump Street), Dora (Melissa Farman) and Sofia (Laurence Hamelin) are best friends who attend the Brangwyn School for Girls. The bond between Rebecca and Lucy is stronger because, as Rebecca writes in her diary, Lucy taught her how to live again after the suicide of her father.
Enter Ernessa (Lily Cole, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus). Raven-haired, pale and with a foreign lilt to her speech and an air of mystery surrounding her; she slowly works her way into the circle of friends; influencing them, charming them, stealing them away until Rebecca is left with no one. What is Ernessa’s secret? Is she a vampire, as Rebecca wants to believe; or has Rebecca been taking Mr. Davies’ (Scott Speedman, Underworld) class on literature and the supernatural a bit too seriously? What about that smell, simultaneously sweet and rotting coming from Ernessa’s room? What about the thousands of moths? Did Rebecca and Dora really see Ernessa intangibly enter her bedroom window from several stories up?
I never read the novel The Moth Diaries. I base my review on the strengths and weaknesses of the movie alone. Two things I discovered are that I liked the movie better than I thought I would. It’s a well-acted and more capable film than its given credit for. The other thing is that I plan to read the source novel by Rachel Klein. Will I love the book and hate the film after reading; or will it be the other way around? Who knows? That’s the fun of it.
One more thing that I noticed: Scott Speedman, who plays the teacher Mr. Davies, also played a werewolf (lycan) in Underworld; which would basically make him a werewolf in a girl’s dormitory. I just wanted to put that out there for you.
NO TRIVIA
½
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FRIGHT NIGHT
FRIGHT NIGHT-United States-1985
William Ragsdale as Charley Brewster
Amanda Bearse as Amy Peterson
Stephen Geoffreys as Evil Ed
Roddy McDowall as Peter Vincent
Written and Directed by Tom Holland
Okay, so they re-made Fright Night in 2011. The remake starred Colin Farrell (Total Recall) and some other people that no one knew or cared about and it lasted at the box office about as long as a fart in a windstorm. In fact I’m pretty sure that on opening day it was windy, I passed gas and pfffttt the movie was out of theaters. But let’s just put all that aside for now and focus on a more pertinent question; why in the hell would you even bother to remake Fright Night when the 1985 original was so damn cool in the first place? It’s 9 in the morning and I worked all night; so I’m going to bed and we will continue this discussion later.
Okay, I’m back. I was discussing the un-necessity of a remake of Fright Night. In a nutshell the movie is about this horror film geek boy named Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale, Herman’s Head, The Reaping) who discovers that his new neighbor, Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon, The Princess Bride), is indeed a bloodsucking vampire. His best friend, Evil Ed (Stephen Geoffreys, 976-Evil, Mr. Hush) and his girlfriend, Amy (Amanda Bearse, Married with Children) think he’s pretty much off his rocker. Therefore, the only one left who believes Charlie is Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall, Planet of the Apes), a reluctant and aging horror film star. The story is almost irrelevant to the level of the brass ring of coolness that Fright Night grabs a hold of and hangs on to for dear life. “You’re so cool, Brewster!!” becomes a rallying cry that Fright Night lives by frame by frame. So I ask again; why the hell do you need a remake? It’s just another example of a Hollywood that’s quickly running out of ideas.
TRIVIA
The character Peter Vincent is named for two actors well-known for their appearances in horror movies: Peter Cushing and Vincent Price.
A puppet that was created for, but not used in, another Columbia Pictures production,Ghostbusters, is visible in Fright Night.
Tom Holland had total control in the casting decisions. The only suggestion he got was from Guy McElwaine who asked Holland to meet his friend Roddy McDowall, who’d be cast. In an interview Holland said that “it was a terrific suggestion”.
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UNDERWORLD:EVOLUTION
UNDERWORLD:EVOLUTION-United States-2006
Scott Speedman as Michael
Tony Curran as Marcus
Shane Brolly as Kraven
Steven Mackintosh as Tanis
Sir Derek Jacobi as Corvinus
Bill Nighy as Viktor
Directed by Len Wiseman
Story by Len Wiseman and Danny McBride
Screenplay by Danny McBride
When last we left our star-crossed lovers at the end of the first Underworld, Selene (Kate Beckinsale, Laurel Canyon, Serendipity) had just taken a little off the top of Viktor’s head and Michael (Scott Speedman, The Strangers) had just hulked out and turned into a vampire/lycan hybrid. Together the two of them walked away from it all and into an uncertain future with Selene muttering something in that sexy British voice about not knowing what the future holds and how the ‘consequences of this night will reverberate through the halls of both great covens for many years to come. ‘Hell, all I want to know is how she poured herself into those leather pants. Of course I wondered the same thing about Olivia Newton-John in Grease.
So, we come now to Underworld: Evolution and this time we begin with a flashback to Viktor (Bill Nighy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1) and Marcus, the first vampire and their attempt to capture Marcus’ brother William, the first lycan. Viktor promises Marcus that no harm will come to William and Marcus takes him at his word. I was yelling ‘liar, liar! pants on fire!’ before he even finished speaking. After Viktor betrays Marcus (Tony Curran, Blade 2, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and has William imprisoned forever in a secret location, the urge to say ‘I told you’ so was very strong in this one.
Back to the future now; Selene and Michael are hiding out after Selene has killed Viktor. Marcus, alive and real damn ugly, kills Kraven (Shane Brolly) and after sucking the blood, and information, out of his veins, sets out to find the two of them. Selene has a medallion that is the key to Williams’s prison and Marcus wants it in a bad way. Throw in Sir Derek Jacobi (The Borgias, Mystery: Cadfael) as Alexander Corvinus, father of Marcus and William, and you have the first sequel in the Underworld franchise.
As a horror fan I should detest movies like this. Films that focus more on fancy gun play and cool fight scenes than on horror and gore. The thing is I don’t detest them; I actually enjoy them for the most part. Sure they get a bit tedious and repetitive, but they’re also entertaining. None of the Underworld films is anywhere near as good as the horror-action hybrids The Descent or Dog Soldiers, but they serve the same purpose; they take our minds off of paying bills, working boring jobs or dealing with morons for 90 minutes or more. Sometimes that’s all I ask out of a movie.
TRIVIA
Kate Beckinsale’s chair had, instead of her name, “My Sweetie” on it surrounded by tiny hearts.
While filming a scene where Selene and Michael look at each other longingly, director Len Wiseman surprised the cast and crew by playing Bryan Adams’ song “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”, at which everyone started laughing.
According to actor Tony Curran himself, he stipulated in his contract that he wanted to be able to keep his Vampire fangs in at all times, even when he wasn’t filming.
The little girl that plays young Selene is Lily Mo Sheen, the daughter of Kate Beckinsaleand Michael Sheen.
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BLACULA
BLACULA-United States-1972
William Marshall as Prince Mamuwalde/Blacula
Denise Nicholas as Michelle
Vonetta Mcgee as Tina
Thalmus Rasulala as Dr. Gordon Thomas
Charles Macaulay as Dracula
Directed by William Crain
Screenplay by Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig
In Transylvania of 1780 Prince Mamuwalde (William Marshall, “Honky”, “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse”) is cursed by Count Dracula to become one of the undead, a vampire like himself. In Los Angeles of 1972, the prince is loose on the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Meeting Tina (Vonetta McGee, “The Eiger Sanction”, “Shaft in Africa”), Mamuwalde believes her to be the reincarnation of his beloved bride, Luna. Dr. Thomas, Tina’s friend, suspects that a vampire is terrorizing the city after discovering that several victims had been drained of blood. Can Thomas and the police stop Mamuwalde before Tina is lost to them forever?
I remember when “Blacula” was released in 1972. I remember because it was one of those movies that, in their infinite wisdom, my parents would not allow me to see. All I could do was listen helplessly as my friends, or at least the ones with cooler parents than my own, would tell me all about the movie and pique my curiosity even more. Cut to 2012 and 40 years later I finally was able to see the movie. I must say that I was a little bit…underwhelmed.
“Blacula” has been hailed as a horrifying addition to the vampire genre and I can only say that I found it to be a bit bland. The film is practically bloodless for a vampire film and the acting, save for that of William Marshall as the titular character, and Thalmus Rasulala (“Cornbread, Earl and Me” “New Jack City”) as Dr. Thomas, leaves a lot to be desired. The production has a TV movie quality to itself and I see no reason why it was released to theaters. “Blacula” is a disappointing addition to the vampire and the Blaxploitation genres.
TRIVIA
The group performing in the club is The Hues Corporation.
Film debut of Denise Nicholas’.
While the film was in its production stages, William Marshall worked with the producers to make sure his character had some dignity. His character’s name was changed from Andrew Brown to Mamuwalde and received a background story about his being an African prince who had been turned into a vampire.
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THE VAMPIRE LOVERS
THE VAMPIRE LOVERS-United Kingdom/United States-1970
Ingrid Pitt as Marcilla/Carmilla/Mircalla Karnstein
George Cole as Roger Morton
Kate O’Mara as The Governess (Mme. Perrodot)
Peter Cushing as General Von Spielsdorf
Dawn Addams as The Countess
Directed by Roy Ward Baker
Screenplay by Tudor Gates
Based on the novella “Carmilla” by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Adapted by Harry Fine, Tudor Gates and Michael Style
It is with a very heavy heart that I come to you, oh lovers of Hammer films and vampires and heaving natural bosoms, and that I make a confession that shake you to the very core of your foundation. Oh, dear God, I can only beg the forgiveness of those who have gone before me. Please, I beg of all of you; please forgive me when I say:
Before “The Vampire Lovers”, I was an Ingrid Pitt virgin.
There, I have said it. Are you satisfied? Do you want to gloat and rub it in my face that until now I never enjoyed the pleasure of those eyes, that mouth, those knockers and that exquisite voice? Screw Helen of Troy; Miss Pitt is the true face that launched those thousand ships. Her beauty is the stuff of legend!!
The story of “The Vampire Lovers” is quite simple. It is a tale that is based on the story “Carmilla” by J. Sheridan Le Fanu. Ingrid Pitt does triple duty as she portrays Marcilla, Carmilla and Mircalla Karnstein; a vampire whose sole intent is sucking the blood from the boobs of every hot babe within a five mile radius of her coffin. She moves from house to house, feeding off the innocent girls who reside there, occasionally feasting on the blood of a village girl to sate her unquenchable thirst for blood.
“The Vampire Lovers” is the first in what would become known as The Karnstein Trilogy. The other two films in the series are “Lust for a Vampire“, starring Yutte Stensgaard; and “Twins of Evil” featuring twin centerfold beauties Madelaine and Mary Collinson. There are no lethargic heroines and no sparkly vampires playing softball looking brooding and forlorn. There are only vampires, beautiful women and enough boob action to make Hugh Hefner get it up without the aid of hydraulics or Viagra. In other words, Hammer did it right.
TRIVIA
Peter Cushing was cast at a late stage.
This film was given an R rating by the Motion Picture Association of America due to the vampire bites inflicted on the women’s bosoms.
James Carreras rejected a suggestion that Bond girl Shirley Eaton play the lead on the grounds that she was too old. Ingrid Pitt, actually older than Eaton, was eventually cast.
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TALES FROM THE CRYPT PRESENTS BORDELLO OF BLOOD
TALES FROM THE CRYPT PRESENTS BORDELLO OF BLOOD-United States-1996
Dennis Miller as Rafe Guttman
Erika Eleniak as Katherine Verdoux
Angie Everhart as Lilith
Chris Sarandon as Reverend Current
Corey Feldman as Caleb Verdoux
Directed by Gilbert Adler
Story by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis
Screenplay by A.L. Katz and Gilbert Adler
Based on the comic book “Tales from the Crypt” created by William Gaines
The entire time I was watching Dennis Miller’s performance in “Tales from the Crypt presents Bordello of Blood”; I couldn’t help thinking that Rider Strong could play a younger Miller in a bio-pic. Between that and the fact that there are enough boobs and butts to keep Hugh Hefner on his Viagra prescription, it’s about the only things that keeps this extended episode interesting. Sure it’s got women of ill repute and vampires and lots of blood and gore, but it’s really nothing we haven’t seen before and better in the same year of its release. Anyone remember a kick ass of a movie called “From Dusk ’til Dawn?” That film came out in January of 1996; whereas “Bordello of Blood” didn’t rear its ugly head until August of that same year.
Lilith (why in the hell are they always named Lilith?), the mother of all vampires, is resurrected and opens a bordello inside a funeral home to lure unsuspecting male victims. One of those male victims just so happens to be Corey Feldman, who, ironically speaking, should know how to defend himself against vampires since he was a Frog brother in “The Lost Boys“. But we’re not talking about that movie, now are we? Anyway, after his disappearance his goody two-shoes sister (Erika Eleniak-”Baywatch”, “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial“, Miss July 1989 in Playboy Magazine) hires private investigator Rafe Guttman (Dennis Miller-”Thank You for Smoking”, The Net”) to try and find him. This in turn leads them to Lilith (Angie Everhart-”Take Me Home Tonight”) and her vampire hos and the final confrontation between the three leads. I’m not going to give away the secret to Lilith’s destruction, but I will say that Harry Potter fans should find it very familiar. It all sounds pretty damn exciting, doesn’t it, kids? Trust me; for the most part it’s not. Miller is by far the best thing about the movie; but it’s not his acting, but his strength as a comedian that carries the role. His character, Guttman, has the best one-liners in the movie. Angie Everhart is all statuesque red-haired sex appeal and Eleniak is girl next door gorgeous. Neither actress possesses a great deal of talent to go along with their beauty. There is then of course the blood and gore to consider, but it’s all cartoonish and not in the least bit terrifying.
So, if you want to see a vampire film with hookers and strippers but not much excitement to carry it along then by all means see “Bordello of Blood”. Anything more than that and you’ll need to see the one starring George Clooney and Salma Hayek. If neither of those choices floats your boat then there’s always “Twilight”.
TRIVIA
In a cemetery, there’s a crypt with the name “Gaines” on it. William Gaines is the creator of the “Tales From The Crypt” comic books.
Was originally intended to be the second installment in a trilogy of Tales From The Crypt movies, but the proposed third movie was scrapped by Universal when Bordello Of Blood bombed at the box offices.
Originally supposed to be released on a “horror themed” weekend (Halloween, Friday the 13th, etc.) but Universal didn’t have enough movies slated to be released for the summer of 1996 and opted to release Bordello Of Blood in August as a result.
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VAMPIRELLA
VAMPIRELLA-United States-1996
Talisa Soto as Vampirella
Roger Daltrey as Vlad/Jamie Blood
Brian Bloom as Demos
Directed by Jim Wynorski
Written by Gary Gerani
Based on the comic book created by Forrest J. Ackerman
Who in the hell was responsible for this piece of crap? I love the comic book character Vampirella. I mean face it, for a red-blooded American male there are a lot of reasons to love her. She’s tough, she’s sexy, she’s beautiful and she rocks a costume that easily borders on the incredibly ridiculous. That in itself is the reason why I hate this movie so intensely; it takes all the things I love about the character and makes a mockery of them.
Hailing from the planet Drakulon, Vampirella chases the villainous Vlad across the galaxy to Earth to avenge the murder of her stepfather. She finds Vlad posing as rock musician Jamie Blood. Siding with Adam Van Helsing, she attempts to put a stop to Vlad’s reign of terror. That’s the plot and within the first two minutes of the film you know it’s going to be one big disaster. The acting is so bad it makes Keanu Reeves and Megan Fox look like Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. The sets look like they’re borrowed from the local high school drama club. The costume, oh man, don’t get me started on the costume. Observe the image below:
Vampirella. Art by Jose Gonzalez.
Now, gaze upon this travesty:
Talisa Soto as VINO (Vampirella in Name Only)
See what I mean?
Then there’s the villain, Vlad. Can someone please explain to me why they felt that they had to get Roger Daltrey of The Who for the role? Was Ray Davies of The Kinks unavailable? Did they even try to get anyone with any credibility whatsoever for the part? At least they got someone hot for the title character of Vampirella when they hired Talisa Soto. In fact, that’s probably the only thing they got right with this movie.
By the way, wasn’t one of the vampires carrying an Oozinator? That’s an inside joke. Just ask Derek from Its Latin for Cookies.
Oh, and one more thing; if you’re going to put vampire fangs on your actors, make sure the damn things fit properly.
TRIVIA
The character “Forry Ackerman” is a tribute to the film’s associate producer, Forrest J. Ackerman, who also was the Editor of “Famous Monsters of Filmland” magazine (and also coined the title characters nickname – “Vampi“).
The old man briefly shown dancing while the band is playing is the real Forry Ackerman.
The space sequence of Vlad and his cohorts leaving Drakulon is footage from Not of This Earth, run in reverse. Both films were directed by Jim Wynorski.
¼
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER-United States-2012
Benjamin Walker as Abraham Lincoln
Dominic Cooper as Henry Sturgess
Anthony Mackie (L) as Will Johnson
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln (Image not from film)
Rufus Sewell as Adam
Marton Csokas as Jack Barts (Image not from film)
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith and based on his novel
“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” is a historical documentary of the true story of how Lincoln freed the slaves from the oppression of their vampire owners. It is a factual and detailed account of Abraham Lincoln and his thirst for revenge after witnessing the murder of his mother at the hands of the vampire Jack Barts. Lincoln is aided in his quest to rid the earth of the undead by his friend and mentor Henry Sturgess; a man who has a dark past all his own and is the only man capable of shaping Lincoln into the warrior he would need to become. The film also recounts the true story of the Battle of Gettysburg and the role that Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad played in aiding our 16th president in his quest to purge the world of the bloodsuckers that inhabit it.
The film stars Benjamin Walker as Lincoln. Walker capably portrays Mr. Lincoln as a man willing to do anything for what he believes in; and what he believes in is freedom for everyone and the absolute annihilation of vampires. Dominic Cooper does a fine job as Henry Sturgess and Anthony Mackie is also good as Lincoln’s longtime friend Will Johnson. Rounding out the cast is Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln, a woman whose beauty is only matched by the strength of her will and the desire for her husband and the beliefs that he adheres to. Rufus Sewell is full of slimy charm as the vampire slave owner and arch-enemy to Lincoln, Adam.
All told “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” should help to make people more aware of the brave and valiant life that was lived by one of our greatest of presidents. When the history books are revised then perhaps those of us too young to see the film will finally know the truth about slavery, oppression and one man’s battle against the forces of evil.
That is, unless of course this all turned out to be bullshit and was based on a novel or something like that.
TRIVIA
Tom Hardy was approached for the title role of Lincoln, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts with The Dark Knight Rises. Later, Eric Bana, Timothy Olyphant,Adrien Brody, Josh Lucas, James D’Arcy and Oliver Jackson-Cohen were considered to play the role before Benjamin Walker was cast.
Joaquin Phoenix was the first choice for the role of Henry Sturgess, but turned it down.
Robin McLeavy was considered to play Lincoln’s wife Mary Todd, and was later cast as Lincoln’s mother Nancy.
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MONSTER BRAWL
MONSTER BRAWL-Canada-2011
Dave Foley as Buzz Chambers
Robert Maillet as Frankenstein
Kevin Nash as Colonel Crookshank
Jimmy Hart as Himself
Herb Dean as Himself
and featuring Lance Henriksen as the voice of God.
Written and directed by Jesse T. Cook
There are two things I love in this world; horror movies and professional wrestling. It was around the age of seven years old that my sister began scaring the crap out of me and leaving a lasting mark by telling me that there was a werewolf in my closet just waiting for the full moon to ravage and devour my tender young body. Wait a minute, stop, hold on, time out. Did I just say ‘my tender young body’? That sounds so…icky. The next thing you know I’ll have NAMBLA following my blog. Back off, you sick pervs!
Cut to three years later and at the age of ten I attended my very first professional wrestling match in 1972. The main event featured “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Johnny Valentine versus “Number One” Paul Jones and “The Eighth Wonder of The World” Andre the Giant. To say that it made an impression on my impressionable young mind would be the most understated of understatements. I am now 50 years old, and even though I know that pro wrestling is about as real as a Paris Hilton orgasm, I still have no intention of giving it up.
Now, for two interests as diverse as ‘rasslin’ and fright flicks you would think that never the two shall meet. But I am here to tell you right now that is as far from the truth as a porn star saying they’ve never done anal. Just look at the cinematic fright world for the match-ups that have taken place over the years. There’s King Kong versus Godzilla, Frankenstein versus The Wolf Man, Aliens versus Predator and on and on and on. Let us not also forget that professional wrestling has had its share of monstrosities. There’s The Undertaker, Kane, Gangrel, “The Monster” Abyss, Vampiro and many, many more creatures of the squared circle. Wrestling and monsters have been strange bedfellows for a number of years.
This brings me to the main event of the evening, ladies and gentlemen. It’s the battle for the ages, the fight of the century between the creatures and the undead. I am talking about the brawl to end it all and the war that will settle the score; the WrestleMania from the crypt and the death match of death matches. “Monster Brawl” is the type of movie that answers the question that we have all wanted to ask and would have done just that if we had just smoked a little more pot; what would happen if the world’s most (in) famous monsters met in the middle of the ring to determine who is the best of the best among the denizens of the darkness? Frankenstein, Werewolf, Lady Vampire, Zombie Man, The Mummy, Swamp Gut, Cyclops and Witch Bitch pound it out in the middle of the ring in this extravaganza of the weird. Lending a hand to the festivities are none other than “Big Daddy Cool” Kevin Nash and the “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart. So, if you love wrestling and you love horror movies then you just cannot go wrong with “Monster Brawl.” However, if you’re looking for a movie full of metaphors, subtleties and Academy Award winning performances then I suggest you watch something else. But seriously, if you can’t enjoy a movie like this on the lowest of levels then you really need to get that stick out of your ass. Wooooo!!
P.S. There are actually three things I love in this world. The third and most important thing is my wife. I don’t sleep with monsters and I don’t sleep with pro wrestlers. I do sleep with my wife. So if I want that sleep to be a peaceful one I damn sure better give my baby her props. Hail to the queen of my world!!
NO TRIVIA
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BLACK SUNDAY (The Mask of Satan)
BLACK SUNDAY (The Mask of Satan)-Italy-1960
Barbara Steele as Katia Vajda/Princess Asa Vajda
John Richardson as Dr. Andre Gorobec
Ivo Garrani as Prince Vajda
Andrea Checchi as Dr. Thomas Kruvajan
Directed by Mario Bava
Screenplay by Ennio De Concini, Mario Sarandrei and Marcello Coscia
Based on the short story “The Viy” by Nikolai Gogol
Is “Black Sunday” a film about a witch and her illicit lover who vow vengeance on her brother’s descendants? Yes. Is “Black Sunday” a film about a vampire and her illicit lover who vow vengeance on her brother’s descendants? Again, yes. Are the witch and the vampire the same person as portrayed by the hauntingly beautiful Barbara Steele? Oh, hell yes. In fact, there is no doubt in my mind that this is Steele’s film in every way. The woman is so strikingly gorgeous that there is absolutely no way you can take your eyes off of her. Who better to portray not only the evil witch/vampire Asa Vajda and her descendant the innocent princess Katja Vajda? With one look into those eyes Steele can make your heart melt and you fall madly in love, or you will do her bidding on the path to your destruction. I have racked my brain trying to figure out a way to review this film and this is the only way I know how. This is Mario Bava’s debut film as a director and it would be the first in a long line of Italian horror classics that include “Black Sabbath”, “Blood and Black Lace” and “Planet of the Vampires.” But make no mistake about it, Bava’s name may be above the title but it is Barbara Steele and her raven beauty that is the star of “Black Sunday.”
TRIVIA
In the October 17-23, 1998 edition of “TV Guide”, director Tim Burton says this is his favorite horror film.
Both Barbara Steele and Arturo Dominici were fitted with vampire fangs. Mario Bava decided against using them in the film. They can be seen in some of the publicity photos.
In the Italian language version Princess Asa and Javutich are brother and sister which hinted at an incestuous relationship. This relationship is not part of either English language version.
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