DtH Episode 95 – Mario Bava

April 30, 2025 by Jon Kitley in Discover the Horror Podcast and tagged A Bay of Blood, Black Sunday, Blood and Black Lace, Giallo, Italian Giallo, Italian Gillo, Italian Gothic, Slasher Films | Leave a comment

Black Sunday (1960), Blood and Black Lace (1964), and A Bay of Blood (1971)

There are some films and directors that are truly iconic and classics of the genre that sometimes we just assume that everyone has seen already. It’s easy to forget that out there right now, are fans that just might be getting into the genre, either because of their age, or now have a newfound interest in it and have just started taking their first steps. For those out there, we are here to lead over to Italy, to one of the most gifted directors when it came to the look of a film, the Maestro, Mario Bava. And for those that are familiar with his work, maybe it’s time for a revisit and once again, be blown away at what he shows us onscreen. Because if it has been a few years, you might be seeing things for the first time. That is one of the beautiful things about cinema.

For fans starting out with Bava, these three titles really show his beginning, as well as how he would influence other sub-genres of films, from the gothics, the giallo, and even slasher films.

Correction: Edgar Wallace was a British writer, not American.

Films mentioned in this episode:

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Horrors at the Skyline Drive-in!

September 23, 2020 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged A Bay of Blood, Curse of Frankenstein, Friday the 13th Part 2, Hammer Fest, Horror of Dracula, Hound of the Baskervilles, Last House on the Left, Poltergeist, Quatermass and the Pit, Scream, Scream of Fear, Sleepaway Camp, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Amityville Horror, The Devil Rides Out, The Exorcist, The Prowler, The Skyline Drive-In, The Town that Dreaded Sundown, Vampire Lovers | 1 Comment

In the last few days, the Skyline Drive-In in Shelbyville, IN, announced several weekends of horror lineups coming up in October. I’m not sure how many of them I’ll make, but I know I’ll be there for the last one I have listed! For all the information head over to their Facebook page HERE.

Below is the events they have listed and what will be screening. Start making your plans!

Scariest Movies of All Time Part 1
Oct. 2nd & 3rd
Poltergeist (1982)
The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Exorcist (1973) Continue reading →

Horror History: Stelvio Cipriani

June 27, 2020 by Jon Kitley in Horror History and tagged A Bay of Blood, Baron Blood, Death Walks In High Heels, Nightmare City, Rabid Dogs, Stelvio Cipriani, Tentacles, The Great Alligator, Tragic Ceremony | Leave a comment

stelviocipriani Stelvio Cipriani
Born Aug. 20th, 1937 – Died Oct. 1st, 2018

For some reason this name might not be that familiar (which is a shame), but if you’re a fan of Italian movies, then you’ve most likely heard his work. Cipriani is a composer that has written music for over 200 films. Working in many different genres, he created his share of horror film scores. He worked with Mario Bava on quite a few films, such as A Bay of Blood (1971), Baron Blood (1972) and would later score Rabid Dogs (1974). He also did the music for Riccardo Freda’s Tragic Ceremony (1972), Luciano Ercoli’s Death Walks on High Heels (1971), as well as films like Tentacles (1977), The Great Alligator (1979), Nightmare City (1980), Piranha 2 (1981), and a few more.

When he scored Tentacles , he re-used the main theme from one of his earlier movies, La Polizia sta a Guardare (1973), which apparently a young filmmaker named Taratino liked the film so much that he used it in this film Death Proof (2007).

With all the great Italian films out there, the music is usually very effective as well as important to the whole feel of the movie experience. That is why these hard working composers, like Cipriani need to be noticed and remembered.

Stelvio Cipriani – Rest in Peace

October 2, 2018 by Jon Kitley in Rest in Peace and tagged A Bay of Blood, Baron Blood, Death Walks on High Heels, Giallo, Great Alligator, Nightmare City, Stelvio Cipriani, Tentacles, Tragic Ceremony | Leave a comment

Stelvio Cipriani - RIP If you are a fan of Italian cinema, whether it be westerns, giallo, or horror, then you’ve most likely heard the work of Stelvio Cipriani, who passed away on Monday, October 1st, at the age of 81. With a career that spanned over 50 years, composing scores for over 200 films, he has help make those movies even better with his music.

He started studying music at the age of 14 and composed his first score when he was 29, which was The Ugly Ones (1966). He would contribute scores for such films as A Bay of Blood (1971), The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire (1971), Death Walks on High Heels (1971), Baron Blood (1972), Tragic Ceremony (1972), Rabid Dogs (1974), Tentacles (1977), The Great Alligator (1979), Nightmare City (1980), and so many more.

Thankfully for us film score fans, a lot of his work has been released on CDs, which allows not only us, but newer fans to discover and continue to enjoy years to come. So that his work with always be with us, which means he will always be remembered. Our thoughts go out to his friends and family.