Black Sunday

Black Sunday is a 1960 horror film directed by Mario Bava in his feature directorial debut as a credited director. It stars Barbara Steele in her first major role and John Richardson.

Moria declares it "a genre classic". The New York Times closes its review by saying, "As a setting for unadulterated horror, it will leave its audiences yearning for that quiet, sunny little motel in "Psycho."" Images Journal discusses how this film shows the "expressive power of [Bava's] directoral style". 1000 Misspent Hours says,

Whatever you think of Bava’s work as a whole (and he’s one of those directors whom people seem either to love or to hate), I just can’t imagine anyone finding much to complain about in this movie.

Senses of Cinema says,

Beginning in the late 1960s, Bava's The Mask of Satan/Black Sunday has often been cited by film critics and historians as an example of an influential and effective horror film of lasting artistic value.

10/31/2009: Barbara Steele's scream in this film is examined by Arbogast on film.