chrisbonaventura

Perhaps a missed opportunity to finally create a great Italian folk horror film, but it can still be a start and a sign that something is moving in the realm of genre cinema in Italy. Unfortunately, the film suffers from a somewhat ridiculous script and acting that isn't up to certain standards (in my opinion, only the character of the Gypsy and the count-father stand out). However, the build-up to the climax leading to the final plot twist is effective, and I appreciated that, given the limited budget, they chose to focus more on the terror of the 'unseen' rather than showcasing poor amateur special effects. The cinematography is beautiful, though the set design could have been studied a bit better; after all, the peninsula is full of palaces, villages, and countryside that could have been more effectively utilized.

An extraordinary historical epic in spaghetti style. The film traces nearly all of 19th-century Italy through the lives of three brothers from Southern Italy and their experiences during the Risorgimento, which led to the unification of Italy. A grand plot, impeccable historical reconstruction, wonderful actors, sublime cinematography, captivating music and a tear-jerking finale. Probably one of the best historical film ever made, certainly in Italy. The director, after all, has often directed theater productions with triumphant results. Some may not appreciate the slowness of certain sequences, but I recommend that everyone stick it out until the end.

A classic by Mario Bava. Despite a plot that's truly hard to top in terms of absurdity, and although the (actually) good actors have reactions that would befit kindergarteners, the film has several merits from a directorial standpoint. After all, Bava himself said he made silly films to be sold in America (did kids like them? Did adults too? Who knows). It's hard to imagine what Tim Burton would have been like if he hadn't seen films of this kind: the landscape reconstruction is incredibly evocative (it was shot almost entirely in Rome!), and the special effects were 'fun' for the time. In the end, Bava constructs a complex of elements that would be embarrassing on their own, but together make you feel like you're on a delightful amusement ride, and by the end, they even seem credible.