8mm Forum: Le Masque du Demon

This is topic Le Masque du Demon in forum 8mm Print Reviews at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 23, 2012, 05:50 PM:

This is a review of my latest purchase from France,a complete
European cut of the film "The Mask of Satan",Revenge of the
Vampire"or "Black Sunday" This obviously has the French title
and it's a stunner.The dialogue is Gallic as expected,but the
print itself is excellent,and just has the edge on my own std 8mm
copy with slightly better definition.Both prints have very good
contrast and deep blacks which shows the excellent photography at it's best.The film is supplied on 5x400' spools and was released by "Le Grande Film Classique"
This was the film that brought Barbara Steele to international
fame and acclaim,apart from putting director Mario Bava on a
firm footing.The story concerns a 17th century vampire/witch and her lover/brother condemed to death by their other sibling for crimes
that are unspeakable and have the mask of satan nailed onto
their faces,but not before the condemned witch has placed a curse on her own family for their execution as heretics.
We are not talking "The Waltons" here,just as they are to be burned at the stake,a storm extinguishes the flames and the
bodies of the witches are buried separately,Asa the witch is
placed in the family crypt, in a sarcophagus with a stone cross
visible to the witch through a glass window,while her accomplice is buried in unconsecrated ground.The centuries
pass and two doctors unwittingly set in motion a chain of events by removing the safeguards that were placed years before to ensure the witch's incarceration, and so setting in
motion the curse that the Princess Asa had made years earlier.
This synopsis doesn't do justice to the feeling of dread and fear
that this film conjures up,and is a well made piece of horror
that well deserves to be called Classic in all departments and
every sense of the word.Being the original cut, there are slightly
longer,scenes like the nailing of the mask to Asa is bloodier,
insects that have made a home under said mask when it is removed is longer,the eyeball piercing is bloodier and the
old Prince's face being burned off in the fireplace is longer.
A fine time was had by all you might be thinking,but this is a
film to savour,like a fine wine and even if viewed on DVD it still
packs a punch but doesn't repel like a lot of horror films now
which I find verging on the pornographic.A viewing experience
which I look forward to repeating.

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on March 23, 2012, 08:34 PM:

Hi Hugh, I was ready to order that print from BD....you beat me to it! Thanks for the review, enjoy! [Smile]

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 23, 2012, 09:25 PM:

Hi Joe,I feel guilty now,but I think if you get back in touch with
them at bd, they just might be able to locate another print.It is
after all a French print and there's got to be more than one,It's
certainly worth a try.

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on March 24, 2012, 08:46 AM:

Hi Hugh, Don't feel guilty, I'm happy you got the film, and I'm sure there'll be another for sale eventually. At least we here on the forum now know what the quality is thanks to your review! [Smile]

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on March 24, 2012, 12:35 PM:

Hugh - Does your old Derann 8mm print have the original box art? I'm looking for a scan. Thanks...

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