Black Sunday (1960)//Joe Bob's Last Drive-In

Part of Joe Bob's Walpurgisnatcht Night, I couldn't think of a better film for such a show as Bava's classic. I truly believe Bava took what Universal 30s and 40s monster movies did well and not only improved on that aesthetic but added that bit of extra I totally love: hammered masks to faces, resurrected witches in decaying crypts, a summoned corpse of the witch's follower rising from his earth grave, the mark of Satan burned into a witch's back, and the kiss of death. The fog, cobwebs, walking undead, Barbara Steele so photographically striking in dual roles in what is one of the greatest horror roles for a woman ever, and a castle so elegantly detailed it looks so legitimately period (not to mention outside of it, with the country side and village ripe with atmosphere and disquiet in the wind all kicked up and whispering to us that everyone in the castle should be very afraid); how could I not love me some Black Sunday?!

Joe Bob was fired up and I'm glad this season he is getting to do some of the very best horror films every made outside the 80s. I get that folks love them some 80s horror, but watching Joe Bob run down for newbies trivia and background on Bava, the film, witches and calendars, and European celebrations (bringing out the map and his pointy stick) is an absolute thrill.

Oh, and this film certainly gifts me something I love in horror castle films: secret passageways in fireplaces and behind portraits!

Those 17th Century Moldavians were kinky as fuck.

-Joe Bob Briggs

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This film was a huge hit on the Live Discussion of the subReddit for Shudder. I was so happy to see newcomers to the film being introduced by Joe Bob to it. His giving all these viewers a big history lesson on Bava and Steele was an awesome way to develop new fans in the making!