Kill, Baby, Kill
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''Kill, Baby, Kill'' (, ) is a 1966 Italian
Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...
horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit physical or psychological fear in its viewers. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with Transgressive art, transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements of the genre include Mo ...
directed by
Mario Bava Mario Bava (; 31 July 1914 – 27 April 1980) was an Italian filmmaker who worked variously as a director, cinematographer, special effects artist and screenwriter. His low-budget genre films, known for their distinctive visual flair and stylish ...
and starring
Giacomo Rossi Stuart Giacomo Rossi Stuart (25 August 1925 – 20 October 1994) was an Italian film actor often credited as Jack Stuart or Giacomo Rossi-Stuart. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1953 and 1989. including the ''Gamma One'' science fiction f ...
and
Erika Blanc Erika Blanc (born Enrica Bianchi Colombatto; 23 July 1942) is an Italian actress. Career Her most notable role was as the first fictional character Emmanuelle in '' Io, Emmanuelle'' (1969). Blanc starred in several cult European horror films, ...
. Written by Bava, Romano Migliorini, and Roberto Natale, the film focuses on a small European village in the early 1900s that is being terrorized by the ghost of a murderous young girl. Overseen by one-time producers Nando Pisani and
Luciano Catenacci Luciano Catenacci (13 April 1933 – 4 October 1990) was an Italian actor and Unit production manager, production manager who worked on mainly Italian produced films during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Life and career Born in Rome, Catenac ...
of F.U.L. Films, ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' was considered to be a small-scale project compared to Bava's earlier films, as it was made without internationally recognized stars or the support of a major distributor. Although a complete script was written by Migliorini and Natale prior to the start of production, Bava claimed that much of the film was improvised. Shot partially on location in
Calcata Calcata (locally ) is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located north of Rome by car, overlooking the valley of river. Calcata borders the following municipalities: Faleria, Magliano Romano, Mazza ...
, Faleria and at the Villa Grazioli in 1965, the film underwent a troubled production due to F.U.L. Films running out of money during principal photography, prompting the cast and crew to finish the film in the knowledge that they would not be paid for their work. In post-production, the score had to be compiled from
stock music Production music (also known as stock music or library music) is recorded music that can be licensed to customers for use in film, television, radio and other media. Often, the music is produced and owned by production music libraries. Backgrou ...
created for earlier film productions. Although the film's commercial performance during its initial Italian theatrical release was limited, its domestic run outgrossed those of Bava's previous horror films; abroad, it garnered positive notices from ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' and the ''
Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...
''. With the re-evaluation of Bava's filmography, ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' has been acclaimed by filmmakers and critics as one of the director's finest achievements; it was placed at number 73 on a '' Time Out'' poll of the best horror films.


Plot

In 1907, Dr. Paul Eswai is sent to the village of Karmingam to perform an
autopsy An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of deat ...
on Irena Hollander, a woman who died under mysterious circumstances in an abandoned church. Monica Schufftan, a medical student who has recently returned to visit her parents' graves, is assigned as his
witness In law, a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, either oral or written, of what they know or claim to know. A witness might be compelled to provide testimony in court, before a grand jur ...
. During the autopsy, they find a silver coin embedded in Hollander's heart. The local villagers are accustomed to medicinal practices and
superstition A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic (supernatural), magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly app ...
s Eswai finds preposterous, and claim that Karmingam is haunted by the ghost of a young girl who curses those she visits. After Nadienne, the daughter of local innkeepers, is visited by the girl, a ritual to reverse the curse is performed by Ruth, the village
witch Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...
. That evening, Eswai goes to meet with a colleague, Inspector Kruger, at the villa of Baroness Graps. When he arrives at the large, decrepit house, the Baroness informs him that she knows of no such Kruger. Upon leaving, Eswai encounters the ghostly young girl. Meanwhile, Monica has a nightmare about the child, and awakens to find a doll at the foot of her bed. She runs into Eswai in the street, and he offers to take her to the inn so she can sleep. At the inn, Eswai discovers that Nadienne is wearing a leech vine around her body as part of Ruth's treatment. Believing this procedure to be causing her greater suffering, he removes the vine despite her family's concerns. In the local cemetery, Eswai finds two gravediggers burying Kruger's corpse, who has been shot in the head. Simultaneously, Nadienne is awoken by the young girl at her window, who compels her to
impale Impalement, as a method of torture and execution, is the penetration of a human by an object such as a stake, pole, spear, or hook, often by the complete or partial perforation of the torso. It was particularly used in response to "crimes again ...
herself with a candelabra. Eswai and Monica are informed by Karl, the burgomeister, that the ghostly girl is Melissa Graps, the dead daughter of the Baroness, and that she is responsible for the deaths of Hollander and Kruger; he also reveals to Monica that the Schufftans were not her real parents. When he goes to retrieve evidence proving so, he is compelled by Melissa into destroying the documents and killing himself. Turned away by Nadinne's father due to her death, Monica and Eswai attempt to get the reluctant villagers' attention by ringing the church bell. Inside the church, they find a secret passageway, where Monica experiences
déjà vu ''Déjà vu'' ( , ; "already seen") is the phenomenon of feeling like one has lived through the present situation in the past.Schnider, Armin. (2008). ''The Confabulating Mind: How the Brain Creates Reality''. Oxford University Press. pp. 167–1 ...
. They discover the Graps' family tomb, which includes that of Melissa, who died in 1887, aged seven. They find a staircase leading out of the tomb, which takes them inside the Villa Graps, where the Baroness confronts them in the hallway. She reveals that Melissa was trampled to death while fetching a ball during a drunken festival. Melissa appears in the room, and Monica suddenly vanishes through a doorway. Eswai chases after her through a repeating series of doorways; in his pursuit, he confronts a
doppelgänger A doppelgänger ( ), sometimes spelled doppelgaenger or doppelganger, is a ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts its own fleshly counterpart. In fiction and mythology, a doppelgänger is often portrayed as a ghostly or p ...
of himself, after which he is left locked in a room and subsequently spirited out of the villa. He loses consciousness, and awakens in Ruth's home. Ruth explains that the coins found in the hearts of the victims have been placed there by her as
talisman A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...
s to ward off supernatural powers of the Baroness, who has invoked her daughter's ghost to punish the villagers, and that she intends to kill the Baroness to avenge Karl, who was her lover. In the villa, the Baroness reveals to Monica that she is her daughter, and Melissa her older sister; following Melissa's death, the Baroness' servants, the Schufftans, sent Monica to be raised and educated in Gräfenberg for her protection. Melissa's ghost appears, chases Monica down the staircase into the tomb, and urges her to throw herself from a nearby balcony. Ruth arrives and confronts the Baroness. The Baroness stabs her through the chest with a fire poker, but Ruth manages to strangle her to death before dying, thus laying Melissa's soul to rest; Eswai arrives in time to save Monica. Reunited, the pair leave Villa Graps as the sun rises in the distance.


Cast


Production


Background

''Kill, Baby, Kill'' marked
Mario Bava Mario Bava (; 31 July 1914 – 27 April 1980) was an Italian filmmaker who worked variously as a director, cinematographer, special effects artist and screenwriter. His low-budget genre films, known for their distinctive visual flair and stylish ...
's return to
gothic horror Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror (primarily in the 20th century), is a literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name of the genre is derived from the Renaissance era use of the word "gothic", as a pejorative to mean m ...
, having previously directed ''
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...
'' and ''
The Whip and the Body ''The Whip and the Body'' () is a 1963 gothic horror film directed by Mario Bava under the alias "John M. Old". The film is about Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee) who is ostracized by his father for his relationship with a servant girl and her eve ...
'' in 1963. In later years, he claimed to have made the film as a result of a bet with "some Americans"; in contrast to his earlier horror films, it was neither made with American or British leads, nor did it experience creative interference from a major distributor like
American International Pictures American International Pictures, LLC (AIP or American International Productions) is an American film production company owned by Amazon MGM Studios. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution c ...
(AIP). Bava biographer
Tim Lucas Timothy Ray Lucas (born May 30, 1956) is an American film critic, biographer, novelist, screenwriter and blogger, best known for publishing and editing the video review magazine ''Video Watchdog''. Biography and early career Lucas, born in Cinc ...
stated that retrospective reviews of Italian horror films described the period between 1957 and 1966 as the genre's "Golden Age", with ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' often being described as its "Grand Finale", as it was among the last of these films from Italy to be widely distributed. The film was funded by a small Italian company, F.U.L. Film. The film's credited producers were Nando Pisano and
Luciano Catenacci Luciano Catenacci (13 April 1933 – 4 October 1990) was an Italian actor and Unit production manager, production manager who worked on mainly Italian produced films during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Life and career Born in Rome, Catenac ...
; this was the only film they produced. Pisano was a production manager who had worked on films ranging from
Roberto Rossellini Roberto Gastone Zeffiro Rossellini (8 May 1906 – 3 June 1977) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. He was one of the most prominent directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing to the movement with films such a ...
's ''
Where Is Freedom? ''Where Is Freedom?'' () is a 1954 Italian comedy-drama film directed by Roberto Rossellini. The film had a troubled production because, after shooting some scenes, Rossellini lost interest in the film and abandoned the set. The work was complet ...
'' to Giorgio Bianchi's '' The Orderly'', while Catenacci worked primarily as an actor under the name "Max Lawrence". Catenacci also served as the film's production manager and portrayed the character of Karl. Lucas has estimated that the film's budget to be lower than those of Bava's films that were distributed by AIP in the United States, estimating it to be well below $50,000.


Writing and pre-production

The screenplay is credited to the writing team of Romano Migliorini and Roberto Natale, who had previously written two horror films for
Massimo Pupillo Domenico Massimo Pupillo (born 1922) is an Italian film director. Career Puplillo was born in Rodi Garganico, Apulia in 1922. He started his career in film through his acquaintance Fernandel as Marcel Pagnol's assistant. He claims to have made o ...
,
Francesco Merli Francesco Merli (28 January 188711 December 1976) was an Italian opera singer, particularly associated with heavy roles such as Otello, Canio and Calaf. He ranks as one of the finest dramatic tenors of the inter-war period. Life and career Fr ...
and Ralph Zucker: ''
Bloody Pit of Horror ''Bloody Pit of Horror'' ( - The Crimson Executioner) is a 1965 Gothic horror film. The film, set in Italy, was directed by Domenico Massimo Pupillo and stars Mickey Hargitay, Walter Brandi, Luisa Baratto and Rita Klein. It tells the story o ...
'' and ''
Terror-Creatures from the Grave ''Terror-Creatures from the Grave'' () is a 1965 horror film directed by Massimo Pupillo, Domenico Massimo Pupillo. The film was an international co-production between Italy and the United States through M.B.S. Cinematografica, G.I.A. Cinematogra ...
''. Both films shared crew members and studio space with ''Kill, Baby, Kill''; aside from using some of the earlier films' set furnishings, the set housing the Graps family crypt in ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' had been used as the Crimson Executioner's dungeon in ''Bloody Pit of Horror''. Lucas notes that the script has two possible cinematic antecedents: the 1944 Rathbone/Bruce ''Sherlock Holmes'' film ''
The Scarlet Claw ''The Scarlet Claw'' is a 1944 American mystery thriller film based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Directed by Roy William Neill and starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, it is the eighth film of the Rathbone ...
'', in which
Holmes Holmes may refer to: People and fictional characters * Holmes (surname), a list of people and fictional characters ** Sherlock Holmes, a fictional detective * Holmes (given name), a list of people * Gordon Holmes, a penname used by Louis Trac ...
and
Dr. Watson Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). "The Adventure of Shosc ...
are summoned to a small town where a series of murders — the most recent of which is of a woman who bled to death while ringing the local church bell — have been attributed to a ghost, and 1960's '' Village of the Damned'' (based on the 1957 novel ''
The Midwich Cuckoos ''The Midwich Cuckoos'' is a 1957 science fiction novel written by the English author John Wyndham. It tells the tale of an English village in which the women become pregnant by brood parasite, brood parasitic aliens. The book has been praised ...
'' by
John Wyndham John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (; 10 July 1903 – 11 March 1969) was an English science fiction writer best known for his works published under the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his name ...
), in which a group of aliens resembling blonde children menace a village by psychically compelling residents into committing suicide. Bava claimed in an interview that the film was improvised on the spot from a script of only 30 pages; Lucas has suggested that the screenplay for the film may have been based on an early screenplay for ''
La vendetta di Lady Morgan ''La vendetta di Lady Morgan'' () is a 1965 Italian horror film directed by Massimo Pupillo and written by Gianni Grimaldi. Cast *Gordon Mitchell as Roger * Erika Blanc as Lillian * Barbara Nelli as Lady Susan Morgan * Paul Muller as Sir Harold ...
'' by Natale and Migliorini. Film historian Roberto Curti has refuted this, noting that ''Kill Baby Kill''s shooting script, titled ''Le macabre ore della paura'' (), featured detailed dialogue and a completed storyline. The screenplay stored in Rome's
Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia The (; CSC), also referred to as the (), is an Italian national film school headquartered in Rome, with satellite educational hubs in five other Italian regions. It was established in 1935 and aims to promote the art and technique of cinemat ...
library was deposited there on 5 April 1966, as screenplays are generally deposited there before shooting has started. Curti noted that ''La vendetta di Lady Morgan'' began shooting on 26 July 1965, was submitted to the Ministerial Censorship Commission on 1 October, and was released on 16 December. This screenplay also revealed that ideas that had already been used in Bava's previous films but were discarded, such as victims returning from the dead as zombies. The film's screenplay also includes scenes that remain in the film, such as the scene of the spiral staircase and the scene where Dr. Eswai chases his doppelgänger over and over into the same room. ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' marked Bava's third and final collaboration with actor
Giacomo Rossi Stuart Giacomo Rossi Stuart (25 August 1925 – 20 October 1994) was an Italian film actor often credited as Jack Stuart or Giacomo Rossi-Stuart. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1953 and 1989. including the ''Gamma One'' science fiction f ...
, following ''
The Day the Sky Exploded ''The Day the Sky Exploded'' (), released in the United Kingdom as ''Death Comes From Outer Space'', is a 1958 French/Italian international co-production science fiction film. It is known as the first Italian science fiction film, predating even ...
'' and ''
Knives of the Avenger ''Knives of the Avenger'' () is 1966 Italian film directed by Mario Bava. Bava entered production when it was already falling apart and re-wrote and shot the film in six days. It was credited to fictitious director John Hold. Production ''Knives ...
''. Actress
Erika Blanc Erika Blanc (born Enrica Bianchi Colombatto; 23 July 1942) is an Italian actress. Career Her most notable role was as the first fictional character Emmanuelle in '' Io, Emmanuelle'' (1969). Blanc starred in several cult European horror films, ...
was cast as Monica Schuftan in the film, and claimed the film was only the second feature she made, despite filmographies suggesting otherwise. Bava auditioned hundreds of young girls to play the part of Melissa Graps, but was unable to find one. Bava eventually cast Valerio Valeri, who was the son of his
concierge A concierge () is an employee of a multi-tenant building, such as a hotel or apartment building, who receives and helps guests. The concept has been applied more generally to other hospitality settings and to personal concierges who manage the e ...
. According to Blanc, Valeri was not happy with the role due to the need for him to wear a dress, and that Bava would goad his performance by referring to him as "Valeria". The actress also noted that fellow cast member Fabienne Dali was so committed to her role as the witch Ruth that she performed
tarot card reading Tarot card reading is a form of cartomancy whereby practitioners use tarot cards to purportedly gain insight into the past, present or future. The process typically begins with formulation of a question, followed by drawing and interpreting cards ...
s for the cast and crew.


Filming and special effects

Lucas described the production of ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' as being plagued by "bad luck" as the film ran out of money while filming. Blanc stated that the cast and crew were only paid for their first two weeks working on the film, and agreed to complete it without pay due to their affection for Bava. Bava's friend
Luigi Cozzi Luigi Cozzi (born 7 September 1947) is an Italian film director and screenwriter. At a young age, Cozzi became a fan of science fiction and began his career as an overseas correspondent for Western film magazines. After directing his first film ' ...
stated that Bava was never paid for his work on the film. According to Bava, the film was shot in 12 days in 1965. Blanc has refuted this statement, the film was shot in "maybe twenty" days, while Bava's son and assistant director Lamberto stated the film took about four weeks to finish. Several exterior scenes for Karmingam were filmed on location in the medieval towns of
Calcata Calcata (locally ) is a ''comune'' and town in the Province of Viterbo in the Italian region Lazio, located north of Rome by car, overlooking the valley of river. Calcata borders the following municipalities: Faleria, Magliano Romano, Mazza ...
and Faleria, while the façade and several interiors of Villa Grazioli in
Grottaferrata Grottaferrata () is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, situated on the lower slopes of the Alban Hills, southeast of Rome. It has grown up around the Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata, founded in 1004. N ...
were used to represent Villa Graps. All other sequences, including interiors and the cemetery scenes, were shot at Titanus Appia Studios, where it was one of the last films to be shot there before it predominantly became a distribution company. Lamberto Bava described Calcata during this period as "Abandoned, constructed on a mountain of tufa, a material that has crumbled over the centuries" and that around the late 1960s the area "became a kind of
hippie A hippie, also spelled hippy, especially in British English, is someone associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, counterculture of the mid-1960s to early 1970s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States and spread to dif ...
community." The special effects, such as the distorted vision at the beginning of the film, were created using a sheet of distorted "water glass" created by Bava's father
Eugenio Eugenio is an Italian and Spanish masculine given name deriving from the Greek language, Greek 'wiktionary:Eugene, Eugene'. The name is Eugénio in Portuguese and Eugênio in Brazilian Portuguese. The name's translated literal meaning is well born ...
when he was a camera operator on silent films. Other budgetary concerns led to Bava shooting the film without a crane, leading him to film with a makeshift
seesaw A seesaw (also sometimes known as a teeter-totter in North America) is a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down. These are most comm ...
to shoot certain scenes. Several shots of Melissa were filmed with Valeri performing the actions in reverse, lending an
uncanny The uncanny is the psychological experience of an event or thing that is unsettling in a way that feels oddly familiar, rather than simply mysterious. This phenomenon is used to describe incidents where a familiar entity is encountered in a frig ...
feel to the character's movements. The disappearance of her ghost at the end of the film was accomplished by dimming the light that projected Valeri's reflection onto a sheet of angled glass.


Music

The film's score is credited to
Carlo Rustichelli Carlo Rustichelli (24 December 1916 – 13 November 2004) was an Italian film composer whose career spanned the 1940s to about 1990. His prolific output included about 250 film compositions, as well as arrangements for other films, and music f ...
, but is actually a collection of
library music Production music (also known as stock music or library music) is recorded music that can be licensed to customers for use in film, television, radio and other media. Often, the music is produced and owned by production music libraries. Backgrou ...
, featuring works by Rustichelli and other composers who had worked with Bava. Lucas suggested that the use of stock music, as opposed to an original score, was due to the low budget of the production. Other music includes
Francesco De Masi Francesco De Masi (11 January 1930 – 6 November 2005) was an Italian conductor and film score composer. Biography He studied composition at the San Pietro a Maiella Conservatory in Naples under the guidance of Achille Longo, his uncle. D ...
music from ''
The Murder Clinic ''The Murder Clinic'' () is a 1966 Slasher film, slasher giallo film directed by Lionello De Felice and Elio Scardamaglia. It was produced by Elio Scardamaglia, Francesco Scardamaglia and Luciano Martino. The screenplay was written by Martino and ...
'', the lullaby piece of music heard in the films titles was composed by
Armando Trovajoli Armando Trovajoli (also Trovaioli, 2 September 1917 – 28 February 2013) was an Italian film composer and pianist with over 300 credits as composer and/or conductor, many of them jazz scores for exploitation films of the Commedia all'italiana g ...
originally used in the comedy film '' What Ever Happened to Baby Toto?''. Music from previous films includes pieces composed by Rustichelli for ''
The Long Hair of Death ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'', ''
Blood and Black Lace ''Blood and Black Lace'' () is a 1964 '' giallo'' film directed by Mario Bava and starring Eva Bartok and Cameron Mitchell. The story concerns the brutal murders of a Roman fashion house's models, committed by a masked killer in a desperate ...
'', ''The Whip and the Body'' and
Roman Vlad Roman Vlad (29 December 1919 – 21 September 2013) was a Romanian-born Italian composer, pianist, and musicologist. Biography Born in Cernăuți, Kingdom of Romania (now Chernivtsi, Ukraine), he studied with Titus Tarnawski and Liviu Russu in R ...
's music from '' I Vampiri''. When asked about the film's music, Rustichelli admitted that he did not remember the film nor any music he composed for it.


Release

''Kill, Baby, Kill'' was released in Italy on 8 July 1966, and was distributed by I.N.D.I.E.F. By the time the film was released, Blanc was known for appearing in various
spy film The spy film, also known as the spy thriller, is a film genre, genre of film that deals with the subject of fictional espionage, either in a realistic way (such as the adaptations of John le Carré) or as a basis for fantasy (such as many Jame ...
s. One of these, '' Agente S 03: Operazione Atlantide'', led to ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' being released as ''Operation paura'' in Italy. Released during the height of the Italian vacation season, it was shown in Rome for only four days in August before vanishing from circulation. It grossed a total of 201 million
Italian lira The lira ( , ; : lire, , ) was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. It was introduced by the Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic), Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy in 1807 at par with the French franc, and was subsequently adopted by the different s ...
domestically on its initial theatrical release. Although Curti has described this figure as "nondescript", the film was the highest-grossing horror film of Bava's career at the time of its domestic run in Italy, outperforming '' Black Sunday'' and ''Black Sabbath'', which were his biggest contemporary successes in the international market. Bava chose not to direct another horror film until 1968, when he shot ''
Hatchet for the Honeymoon ''Hatchet for the Honeymoon'' () is a 1970 ''giallo'' film directed by Mario Bava and starring Stephen Forsyth, Dagmar Lassander, Laura Betti, and Femi Benussi. The story follows John Harrington, a hatchet-wielding madman who murders young bride ...
''. The film was released in the United States on 8 October 1967, where it was distributed by Europix Consolidated Corporation alongside ''
Sound of Horror ''Sound of Horror'' (Spanish: ''El sonido de la muerte'') is a 1966 Spanish horror film directed by José Antonio Nieves Conde. Plot In the Greek countryside, archaeologists Dr. Pete Asilov and Professor Andre detonate dynamite in an abandoned ...
''; the
double feature The double feature is a Film, motion picture industry phenomenon in which theaters would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which the presentation of one feature film would be followed by various short subjec ...
was advertised as "The S&Q Show", with the tagline "You'll Shiver and Quiver with ''Kill Baby Kill'' — and Shake and Quake with ''Sounds of Horror''!". The pairing proved to be a hit on the
drive-in A drive-in is a facility (such as a restaurant or Drive-in theater, movie theater) where one can driving, drive in with an automobile for service. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by ...
circuit, and both films were licensed for
TV syndication Broadcast syndication is the practice of content owners leasing the right to broadcast their content to other television stations or radio stations, without having an official broadcast network to air it on. It is common in the United States whe ...
the following year. In the United Kingdom, it was retitled ''Curse of the Dead'' and released by Marigold Films in 1967. In West Germany, the film was released in 1970 as ''Die Toten Augen des Dr. Dracula'' () by Alpha Film, a small company that went out of business shortly after its release. Europix re-issued the film under the title ''Curse of the Living Dead'', with one reel removed, as part of a triple feature called "Orgy of the Living Dead" in the United States in 1972, alongside ''The Murder Clinic'' (retitled ''Revenge of the Living Dead'') and '' Malenka'' (''Fangs of the Living Dead''). Between March and June 1973, the triple bill grossed over $750,000 from more than 400 playdates. In Japan, the film was released in 1973 by
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
.


Home media

''Kill, Baby, Kill'' was released on DVD in September 2000 by VCI. In 2007, the home video company Dark Sky Films attempted to release ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' on
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
in North America. After assuming the rights had been secured, the company proceeded to purchase the licensing rights to the film for the United States. Dark Sky Films was then sued by Alfredo Leone, who stated that he owned the rights to the film and had recently sold the rights to the company
Anchor Bay Entertainment The revived Anchor Bay Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company owned by Umbrelic Entertainment co-founders Thomas Zambeck and Brian Katz. Anchor Bay Entertainment markets and releases "new release genre ...
. The courts sided with Leone and Anchor Bay, while Dark Sky Films who had already pressed DVDs of the film had to cancel the release. The film was then released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment in one of two five-film boxed sets of Bava's horror films, alongside ''Black Sunday'', ''Black Sabbath'', '' The Girl Who Knew Too Much'', and ''Knives of the Avenger''. The film was released on
Blu-ray Blu-ray (Blu-ray Disc or BD) is a digital optical disc data storage format designed to supersede the DVD format. It was invented and developed in 2005 and released worldwide on June 20, 2006, capable of storing several hours of high-defin ...
and special-edition DVD for the first time in the United Kingdom on 11 September 2017, by
Arrow Video An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a Bow and arrow, bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like St ...
, followed by a release in North America on 10 October 2017, through
Kino Lorber Kino Lorber is an international film distribution company based in New York City. Founded in 1977, it was originally known as Kino International until it was acquired by and merged into Lorber HT Digital in 2009. It specializes in art film, art ho ...
.


Critical reception


Contemporaneous

From contemporaneous reviews,
Tom Milne Tom Milne (2 April 1926 – 14 December 2005) was a British film critic. See also After war service, he studied English and French at Aberdeen University and later at the Sorbonne. Interested in the theatre too, he wrote for the magazine ...
of the ''
Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...
'' noted that though "narrative has never been Bava's strong point, but with ''Operazione Paura'' he has happily found a story in which atmosphere is everything, and the result is even more splendid visually than '' Sei Donne per l'Assasino''". The review also compared the film to that of ''
Beauty and the Beast "Beauty and the Beast" is a fairy tale written by the French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and published in 1740 in (''The Young American and Marine Tales''). Villeneuve's lengthy version was abridged, rewritten, and publish ...
'' and ''
The Turn of the Screw ''The Turn of the Screw'' is an 1898 gothic horror novella by Henry James which first appeared in serial format in '' Collier's Weekly'' from January 27 to April 16, 1898. On October 7, 1898, it was collected in ''The Two Magics'', publis ...
'' and the work of
Georges Franju Georges Franju (; 12 April 1912 – 5 November 1987) was a French filmmaker. He was born in Fougères, Ille-et-Vilaine. Biography Early life Before working in French cinema, Franju held several different jobs. These included working for an ins ...
.
Stuart Byron Stuart Byron (May 9, 1941 – December 13, 1991) was an American film critic and gay rights activist. He attended public schools in New York, then matriculated at Wesleyan University - studying history and joining EQV Fraternity before graduating ...
("Byro") of ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' commented that "every element of light and color has been carefully orchestrated by Bava to achieve a tantalizing and dramatic effect" and "plot details are juggled expertly to achieve needed scare effects" while "there's no attempt to the especial original here - it's just the same old Gothic elements, but handled so skillfully as to revitalize the genre." The review concluded that "perhaps his pix will remain in the province of buffs, but Bava - whose sole international success was with ''Black Sabbath'' - deserves a small but firm niche in film history." According to Blanc, the film received a standing ovation from director
Luchino Visconti Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo (; 2 November 1906 – 17 March 1976) was an Italian filmmaker, theatre and opera director, and screenwriter. He was one of the fathers of Italian neorealism, cinematic neorealism, but later ...
upon its opening in Rome.


Retrospective

From retrospective reviews, ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New Yor ...
'' called it "arguably Bava's greatest achievement", giving it four stars out of a possible four. ''Slant'' also ranked it number 80 on their list of the top 100 horror films of all time. Bava biographer Tim Lucas described the film as a "mixture of pure poetry and pulp thriller, distinguished by vivid, hallucinogenic cinematography...jolts into the realms of free-form delirium and dementia. The spectre of little Melissa Graps, with her white lace dress and bouncing white ball, is perhaps the most influential icon of Italian horror cinema, having been copied in countless other films, notably
Federico Fellini Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and ...
...and the film itself has been an admitted influence on such directors as
Martin Scorsese Martin Charles Scorsese ( , ; born November17, 1942) is an American filmmaker. One of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, he has received List of awards and nominations received by Martin Scorsese, many accolades, including an Academ ...
and
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
;" he and Lamberto Bava have identified it as their personal favorites of Bava's films. In the 2010s, '' Time Out'' polled authors, directors, actors and critics who had worked in the horror genre to vote for their top horror films. ''Kill, Baby, Kill'' at number 56 on the top 100. Taste of Cinema observed that "Martin Scorsese called this Bava's best film...probably the most successful realization of Gothic horror-meets-bad-acid-trip." Scott Beggs said "This might be Bava’s greatest achievement, and he doesn’t hold out on the lush production design or the trippy camera tricks." Derek Hill designated ''Kill, Baby, Kill!'' as "one of his best efforts and what is arguably one of the most effective and chilling supernatural gothic horror films of all time. It has influenced Federico Fellini...Martin Scorsese...''Kill, Baby, Kill!'' creates such a palpable mood of dread and oppression in its first few minutes and so effectively sustains the momentum until the last frame that it is easy to see why it has cast such a quiet legacy on other filmmakers." Patrick Legare of
AllMovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, television series, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was ...
called the film "an eerie and atmospheric effort that reflects many of the elements that have made the popular Italian director's films so compelling: excellent cinematography and strong performances from the talented cast." Pablo Kjolseth of
Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcas ...
praised the film's visuals, writing: "If you value mood and atmosphere over modern visceral thrills there's a good chance you'll land in the latter camp. Rich color schemes, crumbling elegant buildings, mist-covered cobble-stoned streets, dusty taverns, swirling spiral stairs, and endless halls with creepy décor and art all help establish a handful of the exteriors and interiors that make the film magical."


Legacy and analysis

''Kill, Baby, Kill'' has been credited as an inspiration on numerous filmmakers, as the imagery of the character Melissa Graps — a young girl with a bouncing ball who serves as a symbol of wickedness — has been referenced in several contemporary horror films. Fellini was inspired by this imagery, and used it in his segment "Toby Dammit," from the
anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film or a portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of three or more shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme, premise ...
''
Spirits of the Dead ''Spirits of the Dead'' (, ), also known as ''Tales of Mystery and Imagination'' and ''Tales of Mystery'', is a 1968 horror anthology film comprising three segments respectively directed by Roger Vadim, Louis Malle and Federico Fellini, based o ...
'' (1968). After hearing about Fellini's use of imagery in the film, Bava went to see ''Spirits of the Dead'' and reflected on this screening stating "That ghost child with the bouncing ball... it's the same ideas as in my film, exactly the same! I later mentioned this to
Giulietta Masina Giulia Anna "Giulietta" Masina (; 22 February 1921 – 23 March 1994) was an Italian film actress best known for her performances as Gelsomina in ''La Strada'' (1954) and Cabiria in '' Nights of Cabiria'' (1957), for which she won the Cannes Fi ...
and she just shrugged her shoulders, smiling and said, 'Well, you know how Federico is....'" The imagery of the film also influenced other works, such as Alessandro Capone's debut film ''
Witch Story ''Witch Story'' ()) is a 1989 Italian horror film directed by Alessandro Capone. Synopsis The film is set in rural Florida. After passing on her diabolical legacy to a child, a witch is burned alive by the local population, even as the priest had ...
'', which also features a spectral young girl with a white bouncing ball. Among English-language films influenced by Bava's film,
Nicolas Roeg Nicolas Jack Roeg ( ; 15 August 1928 – 23 November 2018) was an English film director and cinematographer, best known for directing ''Performance (film), Performance'' (1970), ''Walkabout (film), Walkabout'' (1971), ''Don't Look Now'' (1973) ...
's ''
Don't Look Now ''Don't Look Now'' () is a 1973 English-language thriller film directed by Nicolas Roeg, adapted from the 1971 short story by Daphne du Maurier. Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland portray Laura and John Baxter, a married couple who trav ...
'' features a character in search of a hooded figure resembling his blonde-haired daughter, only to discover the figure to be a homicidal dwarf who kills him in a manner he has foreseen in premonitions. In Asia, several productions also feature a spectral young girl with a white bouncing ball, such as Wellson Chin's 1997 film ''Tamagotchi'' and the
anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
series ''
Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...
'', specifically the episodes "Abra and the Psychic Showdown" and "Haunter vs. Kadabra". In the United States, the imagery is also seen in the 2002 horror film '' FeardotCom''. Visually, the film has been noted as an inspiration on
Dario Argento Dario Argento (; born 7 September 1940) is an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer. His influential work in the horror film, horror and giallo genres during the 1970s and 1980s has led him to being referred to as the "Master of the ...
's ''
Suspiria ''Suspiria'' is a 1977 Italian supernatural horror film directed by Dario Argento, who co-wrote the screenplay with Daria Nicolodi, partially based on Thomas De Quincey's 1845 essay '' Suspiria de Profundis''. The film stars Jessica Harper ...
''. The film's use of color has also been noted as an inspiration on the visuals of Scorsese's '' The Last Temptation of Christ''. Scholar
David Sanjek David Sanjek (3 September 1952 – 29 November 2011) was a Professor of Popular Music and Director of the University of Salford Music Research Centre in Salford, Greater Manchester, England. Alongside his father, Russell Sanjek, they produce ...
also noted the film's use of the child symbolizing evil as a pioneering motif in the genre: "''Kill, Baby, Kill'', a film of genuine poetic power and visual ingenuity, successfully inverted gothic stereotypes of good and evil by having the power of good embodied by a dark-haired witch while evil is represented by an angelic, blonde young girl."


Footnotes


References

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Further reading

* *


External links

* * {{Mario Bava 1966 films Italian horror films 1960s Italian-language films 1966 horror films Italian gothic horror films Films directed by Mario Bava Films scored by Carlo Rustichelli Films set in 1907 Films shot in Italy Italian serial killer films Italian supernatural horror films Films about witchcraft Films set in Europe Horror films about child villains Historical horror films Films set in the Czech Republic 1960s Italian films