Baron Blood (1972)

Baron Blood (1972)

Who knew that Italian Horror could be so dull.  With a title like Baron Blood and famed director Mario Bava at the helm, one would expect an old-fashioned gore fest.  While there are a few scenes of blood splatter, I left the film with the impression that there was way too much talking.  I wanted the good Baron to burst on the screen and kill everyone so I could listen to the silence.  Seriously!

This does not mean that Baron Blood is a poorly made film.  On the contrary, Bava is an excellent director.  The problem is that there isn't enough action for my taste.  Furthermore the film's female lead, played by Elke Sommer, is overly dramatic to the point of annoyance.  If I were Baron Blood she would have been first on my list to dispatch.  

The bright spot is Joseph Cotton [Lady Frankenstein, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte] who plays Alfred Becker/The Baron.  While he's not exactly a household name, I've enjoyed every movie I've seen him in and he does a good job here as well.

What can I say, I like my Italian horror a tad bit crazy [Where is Barbara Steele when you need her?] with lots of blood flowing.  If you're a Bava fan then you will probably enjoy this film.  Otherwise, stick with some of his other movies as an introduction to his career.

RATING: Fair.

For more info check out the film's entry in IMDB.

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