Baron Blood
Mario Bava's Baron Blood is a weak entry in his filmography. There are more negatives than positives to describe the film. On the positive side is German-born star Elke Sommer (Eva), who adds life and a bit of spice to the proceedings. Also, the film is rich with brilliant colors, inventive camera work, and stylized lighting all common elements in Bava's films. On the negative side, the excessive panning and zooming, at times simultaneous, cheapen the quality of the film. These are devices director Lucio Fulci became known for in the late 1970s and 80s. Bava also shoots many close-ups of eyes for this project, another technique Fulci employed later in his career, but to greater effect. Co-star Joseph Cotten (The Baron) appears wooden. He delivers his lines very ineffectually and seems disconnected to his role in the film. His heavily painted face (caked-on makeup) gives one the impression that he really needed the added color. The lengthy (and unexciting) chase scene involving Eva and The Baron is overlong, indicating that the insubstantial story, script, and film were in need of some padding. Most of Bava's horror output is livelier and more interesting than Baron Blood.
Mario Bava's Baron Blood is a weak entry in his filmography. There are more negatives than positives to describe the film. On the positive side is German-born star Elke Sommer (Eva), who adds life and a bit of spice to the proceedings. Also, the film is rich with brilliant colors, inventive camera work, and stylized lighting all common elements in Bava's films. On the negative side, the excessive panning and zooming, at times simultaneous, cheapen the quality of the film. These are devices director Lucio Fulci became known for in the late 1970s and 80s. Bava also shoots many close-ups of eyes for this project, another technique Fulci employed later in his career, but to greater effect. Co-star Joseph Cotten (The Baron) appears wooden. He delivers his lines very ineffectually and seems disconnected to his role in the film. His heavily painted face (caked-on makeup) gives one the impression that he really needed the added color. The lengthy (and unexciting) chase scene involving Eva and The Baron is overlong, indicating that the insubstantial story, script, and film were in need of some padding. Most of Bava's horror output is livelier and more interesting than Baron Blood.