A Bay of Blood
SPOILERS! 1971's A BAY OF BLOOD has earned a place in cinema history among critics and film buffs for its innovation in the depiction of gory dispatches. For its time, it must've been an eye opener. Even folks my age who grew up with the FRIDAY THE 13TH series and countless other slashers (all of which were clearly influenced) may be startled by how graphic director Mario Bava's picture is. The murders are creative and abrupt. Problem is, the suspense building leading up to them ran hot and cold for me. Even worse was the poorly developed plotting, dull characters, and a pervasive lethargy. The story involves greed among a stable of folks seeking possession of an attractive Italian vista and its titular inlet. The bay will indeed get plenty bloody. After its owner, the Countess Federica Donati (Isa Miranda) is strangled and hung by her husband, the Count Filippo Donati (Giovanni Nuvoletti), someone stabs him to death. This is all in the o...
.jpg)
