I'll admit I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to Italian horror. The genre is largely unappreciated and it definitely has a lot to offer. BLACK SUNDAY (1960, a.k.a. The Mask of Satan) was one of Mario Bava's earliest films. The mix feels like... one part horrific elegy and one part escapist fantasy. There are archetypal moments that give one a sense of cinematic deja vu. Maybe it's because Bava has influenced filmmakers such as Tim Burton and Martin Scorcese. I'm sure we have felt his style through the influence he has had on other contemporary directors. Bava was very high on mood and creating a sense of atmosphere. From the standpoint of pure style this film is outstanding. The thing that keeps me from giving it a better rating is a sluggish story and two dimensional acting. Barbara Steele is the exception. She is magnetic in her dual role as Katia and Princess Asa (the witch).
The photography is beautiful and the shot composition absolutely blows the doors off most directors. There were moments in this film that reminded me of Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast. The camera movement is elegant and active without being showy. The black and white feels timeless. The shot of the horse drawn carriage moving in slow motion is one of those archetypal images that makes you feel as though you are seeing a true original, and an innovator, at work.
If you are interested in pure craft and the texture a gifted director can bring to mediocre material, this is definitely one to check out.