Baron Blood

This gory tale of an incantation gone wrong is high in the visual stakes, but as far as plot continuity and logic are concerned, it’s certainly not one of Bava’s finest moments. Still, it does have its moments.

Filmed in 1972 (and set at the same time), the story concerns a young American, Peter Kleist (a blank Antonio Cantafora), who travels to Austria in search of one his ancestors, as Americans frequently do. Nothing special about this so far, only that said ancestor happens to be a certain Baron Otto Von Kleist, better known as the ‘Bloody Baron’. Legend (or truth) has it that he was cursed by local witch Elisabeth Holle for his dastardly deeds against the villagers, before he had witch Holle burned at the stake.

Arriving at the castle, young Kleist makes the acquaintance of attractive Eva Arnold (Elke Sommer), an architect in the process of renovating the castle to turn it into a hotel and tourist attraction. The film seems the perfect vehicle for La Sommer to sport different flashy outfits and trendy make-up in almost every scene, even in scenes in which she ought to have the same shade of lipstick and eyeliner then in the previous one…

After going into the cellar to go about her business, Eva is frightened by castle loonie Fritz (Luciano Pigozzi), who has a ball playing his prank on the easily frightened Eva. It’s also an opportunity for the viewer to get a glimpse of all the ancient torture devices the Baron obviously had held dear to his heart.

After dinner with their host, Dr. Karl Hummel (Massimo Girotti), and his family, including little Gretchen (Nicola Elmi), Eva and Peter have the genius idea to stage a mock incarnation with the aid of a parchment that contains a spell. Unfortunately, it seems to work, and unseen but felt sinister presence frightens Eva and Peter. In another attempt, they try reverse the spell by reading the invocation again, but the parchment is blown into flames that suddenly appear and burns. Thus the stage is set for the revival of the corpse-like Baron… and his reign of terror continues where it had left off.

Soon enough, the victims start to pile up, and that’s not good publicity for the planned hotel project. Realising a hotel is not going to happen, it is decided to sell the castle. Enter Alfred Becker (Joseph Cotton), an apparently wheelchair-bound wealthy man of good tastes. Unfortunately, he turns out to be our Baron Blood, who can shapeshift between human and ghostly guise.
In a very cool scene during which Eva is chased through fog-shrouded streets by the Baron, she escapes his deadly touch in the nick of time. The next day, Dr. Hummel, Eva and Peter visit a clairvoyant who evokes the spirit of witch Holle, in the hope of finding a solution of how to kill of the evil Baron for good. A little later, they learn through little Gretchen, so has seen the ghost of the Baron, that he and Becker are the same person.

After a confrontation with him, Becker proves indestructible and manages to fight them off, dragging them into his torture chamber where a grisly end is awaiting the victims. Who will manage to escape, and who will die?

The deluxe Blu-ray and DVD edition of Baron Blood contains three versions of the film: Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga’ with Italian opening and closing titles; Baron Blood with English opening and closing titles and the European English export version audio; and, for the first time on home video, the AIP version with alternate jazzy score by Les Baxter.
Furthermore, we get various subtitle options, film intro by Alan Jones, audio commentary by Bava biographer Tim Lucas, the featurette ‘Delirium Italian style’, Mario Bava at work photo gallery, trailers and radio spots, reversible sleeve, and collector’s booklet by film critic James Oliver.