While he never had the kind of breakthrough international hit that made him a familiar name with mainstream filmgoers,
Mario Bava's elegant and visually striking terror films (which he often photographed as well as directed) earned him a reputation among horror film aficionados as one of the greatest talents in the genre;
Martin Scorsese,
Tim Burton, and
Quentin Tarantino are among the many filmmakers who've cited Bava as an influence. Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre is a documentary that examines Bava's career, as well as the life of the man behind the camera. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide