Review of Black Sabbath (1963) by Burton — 28 Jun 2007

The Telephone: Wonderful use of tension. Obviously influential in giallo-terms. The twists were a little predictable, but not so much so that they had any sort of negative effect on the viewing experience. The fact that it all takes place in one apartment, and still is interesting is just a testament to how intense this one gets. And the lesbian bit was fun (silly, but enjoyable).

The Wurdalak: Overall this is the weakest. The building of tension isn't really on the same level as the other two. The frights aren't really there. The only thing that really got me was the part where the little boy is banging on the door ("I'm cold!", etc... very creepy) The ending was a little... meh. As with the rest of Black Sabbath, the visuals are really stunning. Amazing lighting, beautifully framed shots, etc.

The Drop of Water: The mood created visually is eerie as hell (even beyond the dead old lady... which is going to keep me from sleeping tonight XD) The camera movement is awesome (long shots that move around a room, establishing the space AND serving as a means of exposition) The sets are also gorgeous to look at (so much interesting detail).

Okay. And the real thing that gets me. Holy shit. The old lady. The very first shot of her is the most terrifying thing I've ever seen. (on top of that, my cell phone started vibrating in my pocket at the exact moment that the curtain is opened... I almost pissed myself.) She reminds me of Captain Howdy (her makeup), except... less subliminal. Which makes it so much more frightening.

I definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to see a beautiful film that is still one of the scariest things I've ever seen.