Bay of Blood (1971)

D: Mario Bava; with Claudine Auger, Isa Miranda, Luigi Pistilli, Brigitte Skay, Anna Maria Rosati

Like Friday the 13th? Then check out its inspiration. Bay (also known as Twitch of the Death Nerve) has the same despicable characters who get what they deserve, tranquil lakeside setting, gory — but creative — killings, and twist ending. Hippies cavort shamelessly and skinny-dip, scheming relatives plot against each other for waterfront property, and there’s a groovy disco scene. Italian director Bava essentially created the slasher film with this project; his previous work tended toward supernatural Gothics (Black Sunday) and the giallo, or horror-thriller. — M.I.

This article appears in Tom ‘Leatherface’ Delay.

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