twist of fait accomplis

Baron Blood, 1980
Director: Mario Bava
Availability: Medium (on DVD from Image Entertainment)

Maybe it's because it's the first Bava film I saw, but Baron Blood (aka The Torture Chamber of Baron Blood) holds a special place in my heart. Though it's not near the level of Black Sunday or Black Sabbath, it's still an extremely stylish (hey, it is Mario Bava, after all) gothic horror flick. The story is a familiar, but entertaining, one: man is cursed many years ago, modern man reads an incantation that brings him back to life, parchment with incantation burns before the evil unleashed can be sent back, havoc is wreaked.

Bava's imagery is consistantly among the best of his time. His sets are often so beautiful, I find myself staring at them in awe rather than focusing on the plot. But that's not to put down Bava's ability to tell a story, either (though some belittle his ability to tell a narrative). Baron Blood manages to effectively capture the gothic atmosphere and weave an intriguing story of torture and witchcraft. Gorehounds won't be disappointed, either, with some torture scenes for the soul.