mario bava direct the first giallo film in 1963 with the girl who know too much . he codify the genre a year later in blood and black lace . almost a decade on and after the success of dario argento the bird with the crystal plumage and he release his final two gialli and namely five doll for an august moon and bay of blood . in these latter two film it seem to me that bava display a certain reluctance in re visit this newly popularize genre that he have create all those year ago . in doll he show his indifference by underplay the murder and while in bay of blood he take the opposite approach by amplify the violent homicides almost to parody level and in the process relegate the story and character to even less importance than be customary for the genre . the resulting film could therefore be describe a be simply about 13 violent murder . a the credit roll after the final act of homicide and the viewer be leave in little doubt that the film they have just witness have a very black humour at it core . with bay of blood it feel like bava be subvert the giallo genre . right from the outset the movie doggedly go against convention . after the first murder bava camera pan up from the foot of the killer to his black gloved hand in a typically clichéd giallo shot and however and bava then carry on up to reveal the killer face in a move that go completely against the sub genre rulebook . the violence be so extreme in bay of blood that be seem like the director have decide to amplify the most well know convention of the giallo the murder to a delirious level . he populate his story with a cast of human cipher that be deeply unsympathetic and or or ruthless killer . it a giallo turn up to level 11 and so over the top it simply impossible to take seriously . bava tongue be clearly in his cheek when he make this one . the story be about a bay whose ownership be up for grab . some character be prepared to fight violently for this bit of real estate and while others be oppose to the potential environmental nightmare that could ensue if either of the warring party have their way . then there be some youngster who get catch in the cross fire irrespective of the director intention and bay of blood remain a thrilling ride . it the original body count movie . there be 13 murder cram into it 84 minute run time . each killing be carry out with a different method to the last . and mostly they be incredibly violent . this giallo in particular would go on to influence the american slasher genre . there be a number of reason for this . firstly and because of it inventive and bloody murder . secondly and it downplay the mystery element in favour of increasingly outlandish violence . and thirdly and it introduce the teenager in peril theme . this latter factor be because of the section of the movie where four youngster turn up at an empty villa to party . they be then kill in quick succession by an unseen assailant . not only be these murder extremely violent but they also set in motion the soon to be standard slasher motive where teenage sex must result in gory death . a german girl be chase by the killer while her clothes be literally fall off and her subsequent death throw be present with an undeniable erotic charge . while this combination of eroticism and violence be common in gialli and the subsequent double murder of the teenager impale by a spear while have sex be very much slasher territory . superficially and this kill link the idea of teenager have sex with death that be to become so prevalent in slasher movie of the 80 . but really bava can not be blame for his american imitator only take one element of his movie and create a whole genre out of it . the teenager section be just a small and admittedly memorable and part of the film and bay of blood for the most part concern itself with the more traditional older adult find in other gialli and at no other time suggest sex equal death . within the context of the movie the teenager murder be just one other ritual in this extended dance of death and it just happen to be the section that have prove to be so influential to subsequent horror film maker across the atlantic who magnify it and base whole series of film around the concept . in the early 70 bava film have an undeniable nihilism . bay of blood and five doll for an august moon and rabid dog all either present u with no redeem character or display a deeply cynical view of human nature . bava giallo killer never have a an impulse the psychological imbalance favour by argento for example and no bava character kill out of greed but always with a clear mind . he doesn not seem to have have a very good opinion of mankind and and it show here . despite be atypical of the genre and bay of blood be technically and artistically superior . a be usual with bava it photograph very well and although the mainly outdoor set limit the application of his usual gorgeous colour scheme . the score by stelvio cipriani with it insistent drumming be very good and help maintain the ominous atmosphere . and although the character be all fairly cardboard and the cast be good and i do particularly like claudine auger super bitch renata . and a for the teenager and theyre hilarious and especially the bloke with the mullet . though not as disturb a rabid dog and this be undoubtedly mario bava most violent offering . it go by a host of aka name and some such a bloodbath and carnage be indeed accurate description and but whatever the title and it come highly recommended a arguably the most influential film from one of the most important horror film maker ever .