One of the great horror anthology films of all time, and Mario Bava’s personal favorite of his works, Black Sabbath solidified the director’s reputation as Europe’s maestro of the macabre. In The Telephone…a woman is haunted by menacing phone calls from a former lover. The Wurdalak stars Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Crimson Cult) as a vampire hunter whose family is stalked by the wandering spirit of an undead ghoul. The Drop of Water involves a nurse who steals a ring from a corpse—not realizing the curse that is carried with it. This is the AIP English-language version of the Mario Bava (Black Sunday) horror classic, featuring an international cast that includes Lidia Alfonsi (Life Is Beautiful), Michèle Mercier (Angélique) and Mark Damon (Anzio).

For thoughts on Black Sabbath, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/8LVGW1SoP0U?si=kL7_1YR1ziln-638&t=788]

Video Quality

This new Blu-Ray from Kino Classics gives the AIP Cut of Black Sabbath an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that is passable, but this is one we desperately wish could have gotten a fresh master. If a new master was not possible, it at least would have been nice to have the original version of the movie included as a two-disc set, but the label no longer has the rights to that version. The AIP Cut was released on Blu-Ray in 2015 by the label. The new disc is derived from the same master, but this release utilizes a new BD-50 disc instead of the more compressed BD-25 from before. We do not have that disc to compare the two presentations, but the improvements are likely subtle. The film retains its natural grain, and it resolves decently without veering into noise.

The source is stable for most of the runtime, but there are stretches when the image gets really jittery and a bit dizzying to watch, most notably near the end of “The Telephone” segment. Outside of this, there is no insurmountable damage to be found in this presentation with only a low-grade sheen of dirt and specks. The natural look of the feature allows for a fine amount of distinct detail to shine through in the production design and clothing. The color timing seems a bit reserved overall, but there is still a bit of life to the hues. Black levels are decent when it comes to depth, but they also appear a bit milky at points. This title needs a restoration of the source, but we are glad to at least have some version of the film in circulation.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a fair DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in English that delivers an acceptable listening experience. As you would expect, there are some sync issues due to the dubbing of the non-English performers’ lines. This track shows very few signs of age-related wear and tear outside of some light background hiss. The track can sound the slightest bit thin when it comes to its musical heights, but this is stretching to find an issue. The music does not overshadow the dialogue or other important information. Dialogue and background noises are balanced well with all competing elements for a harmonious experience. Kino Classics has delivered the most stable track possible for this one. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas provides a terrific commentary track in which he discusses the release and legacy of the film, how the AIP Cut differs from the original version (in great detail), the scenes that were added for American audiences, the background of the performers, the meticulous nature of Mario Bava, and more that gives invaluable insight into the picture.

Trailers: The two-and-a-half-minute trailer for Black Sabbath is provided here. There are trailers for The Blood Beast Terror, Planet of the Vampires, The Crimson Cult, The Raven, and The Comedy of Terrors.

Final Thoughts

Black Sabbath is a genuinely creepy horror anthology that weaves in several different subgenres effectively for a well-rounded fright fest. While the AIP Cut of the film may not be the preferred cut for many audiences, it still delivers when it comes to conjuring an uneasy atmosphere. The ability to hear Boris Karloff’s actual voice is also a benefit worth noting. This is one of our favorite Mario Bava films we have seen thus far. Kino Classics has delivered a Blu-Ray release that shows off an acceptable A/V presentation and a welcome commentary track. There are ways we would want to see this set improved, but the film is worth checking out any way you can. Recommended

Black Sabbath is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.