Le masque du démon

Original title: La maschera del demonio

1960
13
1h 27m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

19K

YOUR RATING

Barbara Steele in Le masque du démon (1960)

Play trailer3:27

1 Video

99+ Photos

Supernatural Horror Vampire Horror Witch Horror Horror

Decades after being executed for witchcraft, vengeful Princess Asa Vajda and her fiendish servant are resurrected and begin a bloody campaign to possess the body of Asa Vajda's beautiful loo... Read allDecades after being executed for witchcraft, vengeful Princess Asa Vajda and her fiendish servant are resurrected and begin a bloody campaign to possess the body of Asa Vajda's beautiful look-alike descendant Princess Katia.Decades after being executed for witchcraft, vengeful Princess Asa Vajda and her fiendish servant are resurrected and begin a bloody campaign to possess the body of Asa Vajda's beautiful look-alike descendant Princess Katia.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

19K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Princess Asa Vajda
(as Barbara Steel)
…

John Richardson

Dr. Andrej Gorobec…

Andrea Checchi

Dr. Choma Kruvajan…

Ivo Garrani

Prince Vajda

Arturo Dominici

Igor Javutich…

Enrico Olivieri

Constantine Vajda

Antonio Pierfederici

Priest

Tino Bianchi

Ivan - Manservant

Clara Bindi

Innkeeper

Mario Passante

Nikita - Coachman

Renato Terra

Boris - Stablehand

Germana Dominici

Sonya - Innkeeper's Daughter

Giuseppe Addobbati

Priest
(uncredited)

Fernando Cajati

Crucifixion Torturer
(uncredited)

Valentina Cortese

Tavern Girl
(uncredited)

Angelo Galassi

Tavern Keeper
(uncredited)

Nando Gazzolo

Narrator
(voice)
(uncredited)

Renato Montalbano

Spectator
(uncredited)

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9:57

Storyline

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Trivia
Mario Bava and Barbara Steele had a difficult working relationship. She sometimes refused to come to set because she did not like her wig or the fact that her cleavage would be shown. One time she refused because she believed Bava would force her to appear nude. She admits that she was difficult due to her inexperience and inability to understand Italian.

Goofs
In the opening credits, Barbara Steele's name is misspelled as Barbara Steel.

Quotes
Princess Asa Vajda: You, too, can feel the joy and happiness of hating.

Crazy credits
For "The Mask of Satan," the English language version prepared in Italy, Barbara Steele's name is listed as "Barbara Steel" on the trailer and on the credits of the film itself.

Alternate versions
The full list of differences between the 83-minute original cut and the 80-minute AIP cut:
A different English-language dub, and a new score by Les Baxter.
An added pre-text crawl warning the audience about the film's content: "The producers of the picture you are about to see feel a moral obligation to warn you that it will shock you as no other film ever has. Because it could be very harmful to young and impressionable minds, it is restricted to only those over fourteen years of age."
Alternate opening credits.
A brief exchange between Katja and Constantine where he tells her their father has died is cut.
A scene where Katja and Andrej talk in the garden is cut.
An exchange between Katja and Andrej outside her room is cut.
Kruvajan's death scene is cut down significantly to remove shots of his eye spurting blood.
The scene were Prince Vajda reanimates and menaces Katja is trimmed.
Vajda's death scene, particularly the close-ups of his head melting, is trimmed.
Asa taunting Andrej before being burned at the stake is cut.
Added closing credits.

Connections
Featured in Un beau Chassis (1962)

User reviews168

Featured review

One of the three or four best horror movies ever made!

'Black Sunday's reputation grows with every year that passes, and watching it it's no wonder why! It is not only one of the three or four best horror movies ever made, it is one of the most extraordinary movies of any genre I've ever seen. Mario Bava went on to direct several movies of note after this, but if he hadn't and this was the only movie he made, he would still be a legend. On a relatively small budget, but with buckets of talent, style and originality, Bava conjured up one of the most atmospheric and haunting movies of all time. He may not be the household name he deserves to be, but he is a film makers film maker with an enormous influence on not only subsequent Italian horror giants Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci, but directors as diverse as Tim Burton (who rates this as an all time favourite) and even Martin Scorsese. 'Black Sunday' will also be remembered as one of Barbara Steele's most memorable roles. Steele is best known for her work in 60s European horror movies, but in her career worked with everyone from Fellini to Cronenberg. If she is to be remembered for only one movie it will be this one. Steele was one of the most beautiful actresses to ever set foot in front of a camera, and it is impossible to imagine anyone else in the lead (duel) role. The supporting cast is fine, and includes the fondly remembered John Richardson ('One Million Years B.C.'), but this is Steele's show all the way. 'Black Sunday' is still fresh and exciting over forty years after it was originally released. A landmark movie that deserves to be watched again and again!