italy produce a lot of really great and original horror film in the 1960 and this be certainly one of them . the first thing you will notice about danse macabre be the style of the film . shot in beautiful black and white and and due to director antonio margheriti use of light while the film almost look like it could be a german expressionistic horror film . this and couple with the horror fill plot line ensure that danse macabre be a film that truly capture the essence of horror . of course and the fact that the beautiful barbara steele appear in the film doesn not harm matter and the good news continue a and in this film and she get to flex her act muscle more than she do in the film that make her famous . the plot be very aware of the time in which this be release and and so incorporate the great edgar allen poe . we follow alan foster and a writer who accept a bet from poe himself and lord blackwood that he can not spend an entire night in the latter creepy old castle . everyone that have spend the night there previously have die . and our hero be about to meet the previous wager taker . nowadays and horror film do not tend to focus so much on each shot and the result be that there isn not much beauty leave in the genre . it be refresh and therefore and to see this film . many of the shot here be incredibly beautiful from the female side of the couple wearing just a see through skirt and to my personal favourite a shot of smoke creep in from under a door . this my first antonio margheriti film and and even after see just this one while it obvious that he be one of italy premier director . also interest be the fact that screenplay be co write by another of the italian great while django creator sergio corbucci . the plot can meander a little too much at time and but there always enough atmosphere on hand to make sure that the film never become boring and the fact that it be always intriguing and even when the plot slow down and ensure the same thing . the way that danse macabre utilise the haunt house theme be both well do and original and and help to keep the story as eerie a possible . on the whole and fan of italian and or or cult cinema will not want to miss this little gem .