Peter Kleist(Antonio Cantafora)pays a visit of leisure and relaxation to Austria where many of his ancestors once lived. He's quite fascinated with a notorious figure in his family ancestry, that of Baron Otta von Kleist who was known for torturing innocents in his chamber of horrors in his castle for pleasure. In myth, a witch named Elisabeth Hölle evoked a curse on "Baron Blood" which resulted in a horrible death..a parchment was created which could bring him back from the dead and is discovered by Peter and Eva(Elke Sommer, nice-looking pair of legs, but terrible performance), an assistant to Mayor Dortmundt(Dieter Tressler)who is seeing the transformation of the notorious castle into a hotel. Peter and Eva, as a joke, evoke the incantation on the parchment releasing the evil spirit of Baron Blood to kill again. Soon Dortmundt's neck is snapped like a twig hanging by his throat from a rope Baron had prepared, while a poor caretaker named Fritz(Luciano Pigozzi)gets spiked by a horizontal version of the Iron Maidan. Even a medical doctor, with only the kindest intentions, gets stabbed in the throat..Baron Blood takes no prisoners, he executes them with a vile pleasure. Soon, the castle is up for auction with the mysterious Alfred Becker(Joseph Cotten, with this cat-like grin as if hidden behind his eyes is a devious intent)purchasing it. Meanwhile, Eva's life is threatened, in the flick's best, most inspired sequence(an expertly photographed chase sequence with immensely stylish lighting taking the utmost advantage of the street lights and how they can create the greatest atmosphere through fog and trees following Elke around building corners among other angles)where she runs for her life as the Baron chases her. This chase actually started when Eva went to visit Alfred showing him a quilt she found that might suitably fit within the castle he is renovating. She finds the Baron(his grotesque face and charred, crushed hands trying to grab her)as he darts for her ready to kill one of those who he feels has a chance to send him back to whence he came. Peter finds her, taking Eva home, but guess who is waiting for her? They seek help from Dr. Karl Hummel, quite a mathematical mind, a scientist who hadn't believed the story until Eva's life was threatened, who sets up a visit with a clairvoyant. This clairvoyant's name is Christina(Rada Rassimov)who is a medium between the living and the dead. She has the ability to call Elisabeth Höll from the spiritual realm for guidance at how to defeat Baron Blood..she informs them that he can only be destroyed by those who he himself destroyed. Christina hands them an amulet and sends them on their way. When Karl's niece is possibly threatened Peter, Eva & Karl decide to warn Alfred, who is wheel-chair bound, but..the little girl may possibly deliver them clues to who might actually be Baron Otto von Kleist if they put together reasons why it might just be who they never might expect.
Despite a terrific castle setting and some magnificent Gothic sequences showing the exercise in style always on display from the master artist Bava, the premise is old-hat and story rather silly..especially the conclusion which undermines such terrific atmosphere set-up throughout. Some awful musical accompaniment on the soundtrack reminding us of it's 70's roots doesn't help matters. There is still enough here to satisfy Bava faithful and a solid villain certainly helps. The supernatural aspects may be the film's main Achilles' heel. The most unintentionally hilarious aspect could be that the protagonists figure out the identity of Baron Blood from a little girl.
Despite a terrific castle setting and some magnificent Gothic sequences showing the exercise in style always on display from the master artist Bava, the premise is old-hat and story rather silly..especially the conclusion which undermines such terrific atmosphere set-up throughout. Some awful musical accompaniment on the soundtrack reminding us of it's 70's roots doesn't help matters. There is still enough here to satisfy Bava faithful and a solid villain certainly helps. The supernatural aspects may be the film's main Achilles' heel. The most unintentionally hilarious aspect could be that the protagonists figure out the identity of Baron Blood from a little girl.