The film “Black Sabbath” from 1964 consists of three short stories directed by the legendary Italian director Mario Bava. It’s what you call an anthology film. The stories are introduced by the equally legendary Boris “Frankenstein” Karloff. The three tales are the thriller “The Telephone,” the more gothic “The Wurdalak,” and the eerie “The Drop of Water.”
If you’re going to watch “Black Sabbath,” steer clear of the re-edited American version titled “The Three Faces of Fear.” Not only has much been cut from the film and some added, but they’ve also managed to rearrange the stories in the film and changed the music. Instead, watch the original Italian version, and you’ll get the film as it was meant to be seen.
The Telephone
The first segment is based on a story by F.G. Snyder and revolves around a woman who keeps receiving threatening calls from a psychopath. Strangely, the lunatic on the phone knows everything about the woman’s activities and what she’s wearing. The story is decent enough but unfortunately lacks major surprises. The atmosphere is typical Mario Bava, meaning it’s atmospheric and full of mystery.
The Wurdalak
Count Vladimire d’Urfe is on his way home when he comes across a headless corpse with a dagger still lodged in its body. Vladimire takes the dagger and travels on until he arrives at a house. Clear marks on the wall indicate that the dagger once hung there. This is a vampire story led by Boris Karloff himself. The mood in the film is great, and the segment has some scenes that will be remembered. Based on a story by the Russian Aleksei Tolstoy, who has managed to write a chilling vampire tale.
The Drop of Water
The third and final segment revolves around a nurse who comes to care for a woman who has just died. When the nurse sees a valuable ring on the finger of the deceased, she succumbs to temptation and takes it. This is perhaps the scariest story of them all and also the simplest. Ivan Chekhov wrote the story for this segment, which I personally like the best of the three short films.
Black Sabbath
A very well-known metal band took its name from the film, making the title more famous than the film itself. The film actually premiered in Birmingham, and Toni Iommi and the rest of the band liked the title and changed their name from “Earth” to “Black Sabbath.” That alone makes the film worth watching. But regardless, it’s definitely worth a watch or two, so don’t hesitate to get hold of it, especially if you like Italian giallo films. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Boris Karloff has a truly amusing ending to an otherwise serious film.
Hell on Earth Metal Zine 