Castle of Blood (1964)

Castle of Blood (aka Danse Macabre) (1964)
Written by Sergio Corbucci and Giovanni Grimaldi
Directed by Antonio Margheriti


This effective atmospheric thriller based on a Edgar Allan Poe story stars the beautiful Barbara Steele as an inhabitant of the Blackwood Castle, that is presumably haunted.

Our film starts with Alan Foster, a journalist who wants to interview Edgar Allan Poe, but instead finds himself mixed up with spending an evening in the castle as bizarre bet, that no one makes it out alive. Or ever comes back. Once in the castle he finds he is not alone and as one character explains, that they are damned to replay their deaths for all eternity. Foster falls for Barbara Steele’s character who is trying to help him escape his fate.

This is good horror film, and even though not campy fun like Roger Corman’s Poe movies, is eerie and has lush visuals set against great lighting and fog covered sets. The movie feels like Mario Bava, and with one of spaghetti westerns best writers behind it Corbucci (Great Silence, Django), makes this a must see for those looking for excellent gothic horror. Plus, it has the same tone of Twilight Zone or truly great horror stories of H.P. Lovecraft.