I tre volti della paura (1963)

 

Il rosso segno della follia (1970)

Terrore nello spazio (1965)

I tre volti della paura (1963)

Reazione a catena (1971)

An elderly heiress is killed by her husband who wants control of her fortunes, whereafter an all-out murder spree ensues as relatives and friends attempt to reduce the inheritance playing field, complicated by some teenagers who decide to camp out in a dilapidated building on the estate.

Ercole al centro della Terra (1961)*

Hercules must journey in Hades itself to retrieve the magic stone that will free his love from the powers of darkness.

Il rosso segno della follia (1970)

6 donne per l'assassino (1964)

Terrore nello spazio (1965)

A spaceship strands at a faraway planet where aliens await them to take over their bodies in order to secure their existence.

This movie is one my fondest childhood memories, it impressed me incredibly. The style is very unusual, and there's a completely unexpected downbeat ending. A classic! By the way, you can easily see that Ridley Scott's Alien was inspired by this movie.

On renewed viewing: Still mesmerizing, a stylish sci-fi classic, every shot a fully realized piece of art.

Halliwell**1/2: "Eerily photographed, atmospheric science-fantasy..."

Michael Weldon/Psychotronic: "Most Italian science-fiction movies are as exciting to watch as a blank screen. Here's an exception."

Operazione paura (1966)

An 19th century European village is haunted by the ghost of a murderous little girl.

From the first second on, a relentlessly nightmarish and stylish Goth tale, some sequences even quite surreal.

Maltin***: "One of horror maestro Bava's best films, spoiled only by his overuse of zoom lens...Stylish, witty and colorful, with many astonishing sequences."

Michael Weldon/Psychotronic: "...sometimes slow but rewarding thriller."

Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga (1972)

A young man, visiting the castle of a murderous ancestor in Austria, accidentally brings his dead relative back to life - searching for new victims.

Old-fashioned Goth tale works a homage to the genre with many recognizable stand scenes with some added gruesome details and has lots of atmospheric settings typical of its director, but the plot seems stilted as do the performances as well.

Halliwell (no star): "Dull, unimaginative and lurid horror, in which the director's penchant for pointless zooms detracts from his attempts at atmosphere; an occasional chase sequence reveals what might have been, if those involved had been more committed or if its star had bothered to act."

Maltin**1/2: "Standard plot livened by unusual settings and lighting."

Lisa e il diavolo (1973)

A hallucinating woman flees to a mansion full of corpses and sees the devil and other evil beings.

Wildly surreal (and sometimes just odd and confusing) horror movie that does manage to recreate the complex logic and atmosphere of  a nightmare.

Halliwell (no star): "Baroque thriller that constantly teeters on the edge of absurdity before finally falling."

Maltin**1/2: "Truly strange, surreal psychological horror tale filled with hallucinatory imagery."

Michael Weldon/Psychotronic: "A confusing horror movie...It's Savalas' best Italian film."

Sei donne per l'assassino (1964)

A shadowy killer in black is murdering fashion models through brutal methods.

Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga (1972)

A young man returns to Austria and visits the castle of an ancestor, a sadistic Baron who was cursed to a violent death by a witch whom the Baron had burned at the stake.

Mario Bava

Caltiki - il mostro immortale (1959)

Archaeologists investigating some Mayan ruins come across a blob-like monster.

Operazione paura (1966)

An 18th century European village is haunted by the ghost of a murderous little girl.