Horror 2025 Countdown: Baron Blood (1972)

Baron Blood (1972), dir. Mario Bava, Euro America Produzioni/Cinematografiche/Dieter Geissler Filmproduktion GmbH & Co.

How have we not talked about Mario Bava before? We're also ending our look back at zombies, so why not end with an Italian one?

Peter Kleist (Antonio Cantafora) is an American going to his ancestral homeland. His family name used to be von Kleist and his destination is the castle that used to be in his family. Used to be is the key word here, as the local pop is putting the castle and grounds up for auction. 

He's met by his uncle Professor Karl Hummel (Massimo Girotti) who gives him the lowdown on the family history. Peter's direct ancestor was the Baron Otto von Kleist, who fancied himself a witch hunter. This translated to burning and torturing the townsfolk. 

The legend about him is one of his last victims was a proper witch, who not only cursed him but also provided a means to resurrect him. Mostly so he could be tortured again. 

Mayor Dortmundt (Dieter Tressler) is polite enough, but with the auction he plans to turn the ancestral castle into a luxury hotel. Professor Hummel is busying himself with restoring the castle to a more presentable state. He leaves most of the busy work to his assistant Eva (Elke Sommer). Peter and Eva hit it off and in the single most boneheaded move I've ever seen, Peter whips out the parchment containing the witch's curse and reads from it at the stroke of midnight. His reasons are simple, he wants to get into Eva's pants and he thinks this is the most direct way to do.

The Baron appreciates this so much he opts not to kill his great-grandson. The rest of the village is free and clear and he bumps off two in short order. The next day, a very eccentric and very rich man wheels his way into the village. Alfred Becker (Joseph Cotton) is filthy rich and he wants a castle, so he wins the auction. 

The Baron continues to stalk the village, bumping people off left and right as Peter and Eva try to figure out a way to put him back in the ground, but what secret is Becker hiding?

Despite what I've said before, this is a zombie film. So where are the zombies? They are in the conclusion and it is certainly one of the more unique ways to end a horror film. Does the film make sense? Not in the least. Bava could do so much with visuals alone and this is one of those cases. 

Honestly, this might be one of the more original giallo films around. Typically the killer is a human, but here? The Baron isn't quite a zombie but he meets ninety percent of the requirements.