Horror Scenes That I Love: Barbara Steele in Black Sunday

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

The British-born actress, Barbara Steele, became a star in Italy in the 60s, working with directors from Riccardo Freda to Mario Bava to Federico Fellini. One of Steele’s defining roles was in Bava’s 1960 film, Black Sunday.

In this scene, Steele’s witch is sentenced to be executed and, since this is a Bava film, it won’t be a quick execution. What makes this scene stand-out is Steele’s defiance. It’s hard not to admire her refusal to give those judging her what they want. You watch this scene and you have no doubt that if you get cursed by Barbara Steele, it’s going to be a curse for life.

6 Trailers For October 13th, 2025

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

For today’s edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse And Exploitation Film Trailers, we share some trailers from the maestro of Italian horror, Mario Bava!

Black Sunday (1960)

After starting his career as a cinematographer and a visual effects engineer, Mario Bava made his directorial debut with 1960’s Black Sunday, starring Barbara Steele!

2. Black Sabbath (1963)

In 1963, Bava directed one of his most popular films, the horror anthology Black Sabbath. The trailer put the spotlight on the great Boris Karloff.

3. Planet of the Vampires (1965)

One of Bava’s best films, Planet of the Vampires, was later cited by many as an influence on the Alien films.

4. Bay of Blood (1971)

One of the first slasher films, Bay of Blood was also a social satire that featured Bava’s dark sense of humor.

5. The House of Exorcism (1974)

When it was released in the United States, Bava’s Lisa and the Devil was re-titled House of Exorcism and, after new scenes were filmed, sold as a rip-off to The Exorcist.

6. Shock (1977)

Bava’s final film as a director was Shock, which starred Daria Nicolodi as a woman who is being haunted by the ghost of her first husband.

8 Shots From 8 Films: Special Mario Bava Edition

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens pays tribute to the memory and the legacy of the maestro of horror himself, Mario Bava! Bava was born 111 years ago, today.

6 Shots From 6 Mario Bava Films

Black Sunday (1960, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Mario Bava)

The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Mario Bava)

Black Sabbath (1963, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Ubaldo Terzano)

Blood and Black Lace (1964, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Mario Bava)

Planet of the Vampires (1965, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Antonio Rinaldi)

Kill, Baby, Kill (1966, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Antonio Rinaldi)

Bay of Blood (1971, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Mario Bava)

Shock (1977, dir by Mario Bava, DP: Alberto Spagnoli)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special John Frankenheimer Edition

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

John Frankenheimer was born 95 years ago today, in New York City. He got his start working in live television and went on to become one of the best directors of thrillers around. After getting off to a strong start in the 60s, directing several classic films (many of which had a political subtext), Frankenheimer struggled in the 70s (though even that decade saw him directing the classic Black Sunday) before making a comeback in the 90s. (1998’s Ronin is regularly cited as having one of the best car chases ever captured on film.) He was also one of the first film directors to make the transition to regularly working for cable channels like TNT and HBO. Indeed, the films that he made for HBO played no small part in establishing HBO’s reputation as being a “prestige” network.

It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 John Frankenheimer Films

The Manchurian Candidate (1962, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: Lionel Lindon)

Seven Days In May (1964, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: Ellsworth Fredericks)

Seconds (1966, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: James Wong Howe)

Black Sunday (1977, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: John A. Alonzo)

Live Tweet Alert: Watch Black Sunday With #ScarySocial!

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

As some of our regular readers undoubtedly know, I am involved in a few weekly live tweets on twitter. I host #FridayNightFlix every Friday, I co-host #ScarySocial on Saturday, and I am one of the five hosts of #MondayActionMovie! Every week, we get together. We watch a movie. We tweet our way through it.

Tonight, for #ScarySocial, Deanna Dawn will be hosting 1960’s Black Sunday, directed by Mario Bava!

If you want to join us on Saturday night, just hop onto twitter, start the film at 9 pm et, and use the #ScarySocial hashtag! The film is available on Prime, Tubi, and a host of other streaming sites! I’ll be there co-hosting and I imagine some other members of the TSL Crew will be there as well. It’s a friendly group and welcoming of newcomers so don’t be shy.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special John Frankenheimer Edition

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

John Frankenheimer was born 94 years ago today, in New York City. He got his start working in live television and went on to become one of the best directors of thrillers around. After getting off to a strong start in the 60s, directing several classic films (many of which had a political subtext), Frankenheimer struggled in the 70s (though even that decade saw him directing the classic Black Sunday) before making a comeback in the 90s. (1998’s Ronin is regularly cited as having one of the best car chases ever captured on film.) He was also one of the first film directors to make the transition to regularly working for cable channels like TNT and HBO. Indeed, the films that he made for HBO played no small part in establishing HBO’s reputation as being a “prestige” network.

It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 John Frankenheimer Films

The Manchurian Candidate (1962, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: Lionel Lindon)

Seconds (1966, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: James Wong Howe)

Black Sunday (1977, dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: John A. Alonzo)

52 Pick-Up (dir by John Frankenheimer, DP: Jost Vacano)

Horror Scenes That I Love: Barbara Steele in Black Sunday

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Lisa Marie Bowman

6 Trailers For October 30, 2023

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Lisa Marie Bowman

For today’s edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse And Exploitation Film Trailers, we share some trailers from the maestro of Italian horror, Mario Bava!

Black Sunday (1960)

After starting his career as a cinematographer and a visual effects engineer, Mario Bava made his directorial debut with 1960’s Black Sunday, starring Barbara Steele!

2. Black Sabbath (1963)

In 1963, Bava directed one of his most popular films, the horror anthology Black Sabbath. The trailer put the spotlight on the great Boris Karloff.

3. Planet of the Vampires (1965)

One of Bava’s best films, Planet of the Vampires, was later cited by many as an influence on the Alien films.

4. Bay of Blood (1971)

One of the first slasher films, Bay of Blood was also a social satire that featured Bava’s dark sense of humor.

5. The House of Exorcism (1974)

When it was released in the United States, Bava’s Lisa and the Devil was re-titled House of Exorcism and, after new scenes were filmed, sold as a rip-off to The Exorcist.

6. Shock (1977)

Bava’s final film as a director was Shock, which starred Daria Nicolodi as a woman who is being haunted by the ghost of her first husband.

Scenes That I Love: The Opening of Mario Bava’s Black Sunday

Posted on July 31, 2023 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Since today is the birthday of the great Mario Bava, today’s scene that I love comes from one of Bava’s best films. Here is the wonderfully atmospheric and ominous opening of 1960’s Black Sunday: