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ISLAND OF FEAR
George Stark, a wealthy industrialist and playboy, invites a group of rich friends for a weekend at his beach house on a remote island. His guest of honor is Gerry Farrell, a brilliant chemist who has discovered a remarkable new formula for producing synthetic rubber. Farrell is depressed by the death of his colleague during their research and reluctant to discuss scientific matters, but the other businessmen are determined to talk about money – in the millions. Secret offers and counteroffers create an atmosphere of mistrust. Tangible sexual tension also lingers in the air between the men and their wives and lovers, and suspicion grows when guests begin to die one after another! In this stylish and previously unreleased whodunit, Mario Bava strikes – again and again.
THE EVIL EYE
Mario Bava’s stylish thriller, widely regarded as the first giallo film, stars Leticia Roman as Nora, who travels to Rome to visit her sick aunt. The aunt dies that very night, and Nora witnesses a murder. Neither the police nor the kind Dr. Bassi (John Saxon) believe her, as no body is found, so Nora moves in with her aunt’s friends, the Cravens. More murders follow, tied to a decade-long series of killings whose victims are chosen in alphabetical order by surname. It’s worth waiting for the surprising ending – and for Valentina Cortese’s delightful supporting performance. Many conventions of the giallo genre were established by Bava the following year with *Sei Donne per l’Assassino*.
BAY OF BLOOD
Countess Federica, the aging owner of valuable seaside property, is brutally murdered by her husband, Filippo Donati – who is then himself killed by a mysterious third person! Who is the murderer? Could it be real estate developer Frank Ventura? Or Paolo Fossati, the local entomologist determined to protect the natural habitat around the bay? The countess’s illegitimate son Simon, eager to claim his name? Or Albert, the weak husband of the Donatis’ ambitious daughter, Renata? None of them remains a suspect for long – Mario Bava’s dark comedy of human greed features 13 characters and 13 of the most shocking murders ever filmed.
