Black Sabbath

Released May 6, 1964

1h 39m

Horror

List

89%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Karloff introduces tales of a haunted nurse (Jacqueline Pierreux), a stalked call girl (Michèle Mercier) and a vampire (Boris Karloff).

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Taylor L

Every film in this Mario Bava horror anthology bears some of his trademark visual cues, but overall it's a relatively mixed bag when it comes to effectiveness; 'The Telephone' is light on the scares (though that may be a recent viewing of When a Stranger Calls talking, which shares a similar premise done much more effectively), and 'The Wurdulak' features Boris Karloff and some genuine creeps with family love ultimately being weaponized, but is relatively traditional all things considered. 'The Drop of Water' is the real winner here, with everything drenched in lurid color and cobwebs simultaneously, a generally simple but insidious threat, and an ominous audio cue. However, it's also got a lighthearted side, as Karloff gives a lighthearted introduction and a fourth-wall-breaking ending that imparts more self-awareness than the budget would suggest. (3/5)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/04/22

Full Review

Gianmarco R

Horror film composed of three different stories not all of the same level, in fact the first two are very good but the third is slightly worse. The film is not all that great at the end and in general all stories have some building blocks of classic horror and all three are based on maintaining a good level of suspense. Overall the film goes very well and is entertaining.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/18/22

Full Review

dave s

If you can overlook Boris Karloff's odd introductions to the three films in the anthology and ignore the bad dubbing (at least in the American release) and accept the less than compelling stories, Italian horror auteur Mario Bava's film may be worth checking out. The lavish set designs, garish colour schemes, and creative lighting helps to establish a uniquely macabre atmosphere. While there may not be a lot happening with the content, bathing in Bava's style is always worth the time.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Itâ(TM)s nice to see Boris Karloff and an international cast which includes MichÃ¨le Mercier, but the three horror tales presented here by director Mario Bava are all pretty simple, and he too often relies on zooms and shock cuts. I also found the music to be far too dramatic and intrusive, as if trying to will fear into us because the stories arenâ(TM)t scary. However, I later discovered that I had seen the American cut, which is apparently quite a bit worse than the original, because content was censored, the filmâ(TM)s color processing was done at an inferior lab, and the soundtrack was completely changed. Not sure what to conclude other than to say, seek out the Italian version.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

The visuals may be impressive, but logic is definitely not Bava's forte, and so the first two stories we see here are laughably ridiculous (with also some serious misogynistic and racist undertones) while the last one ("The Drop of Water") is the only effectively creepy.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

andrey k

An anthology which contains in itself three stories, the next moodier and creepier then the previous one, the third being a true masterpiece of horror. Decorations, sound effects, unique chilling atmosphere are the trademark of this director, they are so authentic and moody.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Mario Bava

Director

Boris Karloff

Himself

Jacqueline Pierreux

Helen Chester

Michèle Mercier

Rosy

Lydia Alfonsi

Mary

Mark Damon

Vladimire d'Urfe

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Budd Wilkins

Slant Magazine

Mario Bava’s ominous omnibus Black Sabbath is equal parts stunning and chilling.

Oct 16, 2023

Full Review

Noel Murray

The Dissolve

Even with Boris Karloff providing a lighthearted introduction and sign-off, Black Sabbath is fraught with fatalism.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 16, 2013

Full Review

Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

An exemplar of expressionistic visual storytelling.

Rated: A-

Feb 14, 2008

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

while not Bava's best work, it is nevertheless a compelling assemblage of horrific scenarios that take full advantage of all the genre has to offer

Rated: 3/4

Dec 18, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This is most effective in its original sequencing, which progresses in story terms from good to better to best.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 28, 2023

Full Review

Alberto Abuín

Espinof

Bava achieves one of the most terrifying atmospheres ever felt in a film. [Full Review in Spanish]

Apr 10, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Karloff introduces tales of a haunted nurse (Jacqueline Pierreux), a stalked call girl (Michèle Mercier) and a vampire (Boris Karloff).

Director: Mario Bava
Screenwriter: Mario Bava, Alberto Bevilacqua, Marcello Fondato
Distributor: American International Pictures
Production Co: Alta Vista Productions
Genre: Horror
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Theaters): May 6, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 25, 2017
Runtime: 1h 39m