(1966)***1/2Another creepy kid installment, Melissa is one pissed off child and she's a ghost. The story opens with coroner, Dr. Eswai's arrival at this little village. Inspector Kruger summoned the coroner after the mysterious death of a young maid who worked at the Villa Graps. He finds that the locals have already buried the girl and they are outraged when the doctor exhumes the body to complete an autopsy. He finds a gold coin had been placed in the girls heart. Monica, his local assistant tells him it is an old custom that the superstitious locals adhere to. "Only with money in the heart," she says, "can one who meets a violent death ever rest in peace." The villagers are furious with Dr. Eswai for disturbing the dead girl. As they crowd in intending to release their fury on him they are suddenly silenced by a local sorceress. The sorceress eventually reveals the tale of Melissa, the young girl who died too early and how her resentful ghost hangs around taking the lives of young women. A connection is established between Monica and Melissa and it becomes obvious that Monica is in grave danger. Monica and Dr. Eswai must discover a way to put Melissa's ghost to rest before it's too late.
This is some of Mario Bava's best work. If there is any question why he is listed among esteemed Italian horror directors it's films like Kill, Baby, Kill that put those thoughts to rest. My only complaint is that most of the characters were a little flat and emotionless. Melissa is a perfect creepy kid, she always lurking about looking through windows. Even her method of killing is evil, she forces her victims to take their own lives. She seems to get control of their minds somehow and they watch in horror as their own hands deliver them into death.
This film is shot beautifully, the village looks exactly the way a cursed village should. Lots of mist and old stone buildings filled with mysterious tunnels and winding stairways. There is one scene where the good Dr. is caught in Melissa's mind web, he's running around trying to find Monica. He enters a room and leaves through a second door bringing him back to the same room where he exits again. He runs through again and again in a panic when we realize there is a second version of him chasing him. It's pretty trippy. Anyway, this is well worth checking out. If you have yet to take the plunge into the world of Bava then I recommend Kill, Baby, Kill as a good first.
6 comments:
This sounds great! The picture of the staircase evokes the cinematography of Suspiria. My only complaint about his films is that I find it hard to watch things that have been dubbed over, I find it distracting.
Yeah the dubbing is tough but blessedly this film was short on dialog.
I just finished a Bava flick, left over from my Italian theme a couple thins ago.
That first pic with the dolls gives me the chills. Freaky dolls scare the hell out of me.
The problem with Bava films (in addition to the dubbing) is the poor quality DVD transfers. I think I own 3 versions of this movie and all 3 are grainy and nearly unwatchable. It's hard to judge him artistically when the presentation is so shoddy.
Still, I've seen enough of his movies to know that he's nowhere near as talented or capable as Argento and Fulci.
i was going to make the same comparison to suspiria.
this looks cool.
Okay, this review has convinced me it's time for me to dabble some more with the Italian directors. In the old days I'd plunge into them with relentless thoroughness, but I never have the time. Plus, I've seen enough bad Argento movies to know that it can be a mixed bag.
Still, don't think I've seen any Bava at all.
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