Cheap Castle of Blood (Uncensored International Version) (DVD) (Antonio Margheriti) Price

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Customer Reviews of Castle of Blood (Uncensored International Version)

Fine Atmospheric Italian Horror
This is a fine example of the Italian Horror film genre which took American Drive-Ins by storm in the 1960's (American title: CASTLE OF TERROR). Star Barbara Steele, having made a sensation in Mario Bava's BLACK SUNDAY (aka: MASK OF SATAN) in 1960, appeared in a string of Euro-Horror classics over the next several years with this film being one of the best. Directed by Bava protege/rival Antonio Margheriti (aka: Anthony Dawson) the story is original and compelling, but the atmospheric black & white cinematography is actually the star of the picture. Sadly, the English dubbing is not very good (it never is really), but the score is hauntingly beautiful. If this DVD is actually the European release print then expect some flashes of nudity, a bit of lesbianism and extended gore in the films mid-section that were trimmed for U.S. release. For fans of Barbara Steele this is a must have, and those who enjoy a good creepy horror story, beautifully filmed will also want to add it to their collections.

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A Minor Masterpiece
A fine example of the Italian horror-film of the sixties mostly concerned with atmosphere. A journalist is spending the night in a haunted mansion to prove Edgar Allan Poe wrong on his theory of life after death (!). The investigation of the old dark house and endless walking down dark corridors make up for most of the running time, but then Barbara Steele shows up and after two minutes they're in love. Well, the story is actually quite good, almost tending towards a greek tragedy with adultery and three people dying within ten seconds. As we have come to expect from the Italian horror-cinema there are plenty of hints to lesbianism, necrophilia and algolagnia, but as usual it's rendered with a lot of taste and poetical manner. Fans of Bava's Black Sunday will be pleased to see not only the otherworldly Barbara Steele but also the stoical Arturo Dominici, who played Javutich, as Dr. Camus, who becomes the journalist's spiritual guide in the haunted house.
The DVD looks great, but the sound is mildly worn. It can occasionally be difficult to make sense of the dialogue. As a European I'm often annoyed by the lack of subtitles on many american DVD-releases.

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that sexy gila monster! the true female horror star
that sexy gila monster, barbara steele!
she's a prime example of a great screen presence in (often) lackluster films.
but,
she reamins the sole great female horror star.
no, screaming bimbo here.
virtually all of her films are worth getting for her alone, but if you want a condensed list;
this one and black sunday are top 2.
then, nightmare castle and the terror of dr hitchcock (the longer british version).
enjoy