REVIEW: Lamberto Bava classic (based on his father’s classic) arrives at Severin
Image courtesy of Severin / Provided by Foundry Comm with permission.
One wonders what growing up in the Italian household of the Bava household must have been like.
Patriarch Mario Bava created some of the most important horror films of his generation, and his son, Lamberto Bava, picked up the baton and directed some scary gems as well. Lamberto’s claim to fame is the Demons franchise, which still stands the test of time as an example of exquisite gruesome effects. Mario as several claims to fame, but especially Black Sunday, the 1960 Gothic horror film starring Barbara Steele.
What may be little known to genre fans is that Lamberto honored his father’s legacy by directing a remake of Black Sunday called The Mask of Satan (Black Sunday was also known as The Mask of the Demon, hence the name of the remake). Lamberto’s film came out in 1989 and has largely stayed under the radar. Now, Severin Films is resurrecting the remake with a new special edition, complete with an exclusive slipcover; in fact, the release is the North American blu-ray premiere of The Mask of Satan (also known as Demons 5: The Devil’s Veil because every horror movie from Italy needs at least two titles).
Black Sunday is definitely a better film than The Mask of Satan, but Lamberto’s remake effort is surprisingly watchable and set in a completely new environment. The original tale tells the story of a purported witch who is made to wear a spiked mask and burn at the stake, and the remake has a similar character. Where the two films differ is what happens in the present day, many years after the burning. The original tale is a black-and-white movie set in a creepy crypt and castle, very much like Dracula. Lamberto’s update follows a group of young friends who are skiing in the winter wilderness. All of a sudden, and out of nowhere, they fall into a crevasse where an ancient palace is awaiting their discovery. There they meet a creepy man who leads them to the legend of the witch who was dispatched in the first few minutes of the film.
Severin’s release enhances the material with some additional interviews. Lamberto sits down for a feature called The Curse of the Mask, and actor Mary Sellers, known for Stagefright) is featured in Una Americana A Roma. Finally, there’s an interview with actor Debora Caprioglio (Paganini) called Sabina the Teenage Witch. The film itself has been scanned into 2K from its original camera negative.
There are some decent scare sequences in Lamberto’s 1989 release, with gory effects and requisite demonic thrashing. No one does demonic quite like Lamberto. The decisions made by the skiers are worthy of some eye rolls, and some of the characters pay the ultimate price for their naiveté. It’s difficult to get on the side of these young friends because their characters are never carved out and explained; they are situational casualties who must take on an ancient evil — an evil that proves to be much more interesting.
Severin has thankfully brought Lamberto’s forgotten film back from the grave, allowing Italian horror lovers the chance for a satanic double feature. First, start with Mario’s exquisite Gothic classic, and then grab a bowl of popcorn for the uniquely demented follow-up by Lamberto.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Mask of Satan (1989), also known as Demons 5: The Devil’s Veil, is now available from Severin Films. Directed by Lamberto Bava. Written by Massimo de Rita and Giorgio Stegani. Starring Mary Sellers, Debora Caprioglio and Michele Soavi. Running time: 98 minutes. In Italian and Spanish with optional English subtitles. Click here for more information.
