THE LONG HAIR OF DEATH

released 24 July 1964 | 12 | Blu-ray Director antonio Margheriti Cast Barbara steele, George ardisson, Halina Zalewska, umberto raho This Italian gothic horror is very much in the vein of 1960’s Black Sunday. Like Mario Bava’s classic, it stars sulky-eyed goth pin-up Barbara Steele, begins with a woman being burned to death, and sees her curse befalling the family responsible.

Director Antonio Margheriti may be best known for 1980’s trashy Cannibal Apocalypse, but this is more atmospheric work. Expect ominous music, much nostril-flare acting, and altogether too much 15th century sexual assault of the “I will have you, woman!” kind.

Riccardo Pallottini’s shadowy, black-and-white cinematography is ravishingly beautiful. It’s a shame the script makes little sense. For example: when Steele’s character turns up, why doesn’t everyone spot she’s the spit of the witch’s dead daughter? And why kill someone by drugging them, sealing them in a crypt, then carrying the body upstairs again when you could suffocate them with a pillow and save all that heavy lifting? For every composition that makes you coo with approval, there’s a piece of plotting that prompts a bewildered “Huh?!”

Extras A decent interview with the director’s son on his career (15 minutes); the trailer. Plus: choose between an English dub and the subtitled Italian version; the latter explains some plot points better.