Title: Black Sunday (The Mask of Satan) (1960)

Studio: Image Entertainment

Rating: ‘Not Rated’

Running Time: 87 Minutes, original uncut version

Format(s): Anamorphic Widescreen

Extras: Trailers

Extensive liner notes by Tim Lucas, editor of "Video Watchdog" magazine

Commentary by Tim Lucas

Production notes on English vs. Italian cut of the movie

Promotional Materials/Photo Gallery

Directed By: Mario Bava

Starring: Barbara Steele, John Richardson, Andrea Checci

Reviewed by: Joe O’Leary

Italian director Mario Bava's first solo directorial effort Black Sunday scared the hell out of me as a horror loving kid, so I was very excited to see it being released in its uncut form on DVD. I did wonder though, would Black Sunday still pack a gothic punch 40 years after its release? (And 23 years later since I'd seen it?) Read on…

The film opens during the 17th century, with Princess Asa and her cohort Javutich being put to death for witchcraft by having a spiked devil mask nailed to their face! Most definitely a powerful opening scene, and very brutal for 1960. Two hundred years pass, and legend of Asa the witch still lives on. A coach carrying two doctors breaks down in the woods near where Asa was killed. While waiting for the coachman to repair the wheel, the doctors discover an ancient crypt, and decide to investigate. Inside the crypt, they find a very strange stone coffin, which contains the body of Asa, and one of the doctors accidentally brings the witch back to life. Asa uses witchcraft to slowly resurrect herself and Javutich, so they can wreak their revenge. Asa also has another plan: to possess the body of Katia, her relative two hundred years removed, who looks exactly like Asa.

As Tim Lucas states in the liner notes, Black Sunday has the style and atmosphere of the classic Universal horror movies of the 30s, but the explicitness and eroticism of Britain's Hammer films. Bava's choice to film it in black and white adds a rich, hefty layer of gothic atmosphere and style to the movie. I believe it would have lost this strength if filmed in color, as it wouldn't have seemed as dark and foreboding. In fact, the atmosphere is so eerie that it delivers a good portion of the frights in this film; hell, you could film an actor reading the phone book on any one of these sets, and it would be creepy! Sensuous Barbara Steele is a joy to watch in both her roles, and her acting carries the script throughout most of the film. Even 23 years later, many scenes in Black Sunday gave me the creeps, especially Asa the witch's resurrection scenes and Javutich clawing his way out of his grave. Black Sunday earns the title of Horror Classic!

Image Entertainment should be HIGHLY commended on this DVD, for many reasons. First, for delivering the original director's cut of the film. Before this DVD, the only editions available in the US were re-scored and re-dubbed, with over three minutes of footage missing thanks to US censors back in 1961. This new DVD presents the film exactly as it was first released overseas, with all the "violent" and "erotic" content back in place.

Second, the presentation is first rate. The picture quality is fantastic, with the whites, grays and blacks all very well balanced. The sound is also great, not really showing much signs of its age. The inclusion of the original score by Roberto Nicolosi also adds to the eerie feel of the movie, blending well with the frights on screen. I obviously don't remember the re-scored soundtrack, but I can't image it could hold a candle to Nicolosi's haunting score.

Third, (and one of my favorite aspects of DVD) the special features are great for such an old movie. The original trailer is fun to watch, and the still photo and poster gallery contains some excellent movie posters and lobby cards. There is a special section that explains the differences between the US version and the original Italian version, including some cut scenes. The biographies for Bava and Steele are very well done. The real gem here is the commentary track by Tim Lucas, who also provides the in-depth liner notes that fold out of the DVD's cover (the liner notes are taken from an upcoming book on Bava by Tim). Tim is an expert on Bava, and his commentary sheds light on all aspects of the production of Black Sunday.

This presentation of Black Sunday on DVD should have Bava/classic horror fans rejoicing, and is a must for the video library of any true horror aficionado.