MovieChat Forums > La maschera del demonio (1961) Discussion > Favorite scariest scene

Favorite scariest scene

posted 18 years ago by marilynn25
20 replies | jump to latest

What's your favorite scary scene in this movie? One of the scenes that scared me most when it first came out was when that poor girl has to go milk the cow, and as she does so reluctantly, the camera slowly pans outside the barn to the graveyard so close by to her, and shows what's starting to rise from the grave! Also, the scene where the doctor follows the servant holding the lantern down the hallway in the old castle at night, and the servant gets so far ahead of him, that when the doctor finally catches up, he finds nothing but the lantern slowly swinging, hung up on a hook...that part still gives me chills.

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

There weren`t any scary scenes. However, the movie is generally very well shot, real beautiful, atmospheric, sinister stuff - and that just about manages to prevail over the cheesy dialogue, bad acting and having to stare at Barbara Steele`s ugly mug for a duration. Gotta say though that if this is really the best Mr Bava could do, I`d rather skip the rest of his filmography.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] digitopolis 10 years ago

Bava has made better films. This is just his most famous. I personally consider Lisa and the Devil to be his masterpiece. Black Sabbath is also really good (The Italian version orders the stories in a better way than the US version).

And Barbara Steele ugly?! Maybe it's just the way she's done up in this film. She actually looks prettier in The Horrible Dr Hichcock and sexy in An Angel for Satan.

[–] ElectricWarlock 10 years ago

My favorite scene in this movie is the opening sequence with Asa and Javuto being executed while Asa declares her curse. It's such a wonderfully creepy scene that sets up the atmosphere for the rest of the film.

Death lives in the Vault of Horror!

[–] Satantangoandcash 8 years ago

I just watched this for the first time and didn't find it very frightening, but in 1960 it must have been terrifying.
Probably the scariest thing in it was the opening where I was reminded that supposedly upstanding citizens used to torture women and burn them alive, because that type of mob rule horror still exists. Hammering the mask on the witch's face was the most distubing part of the movie, but the scene that really impressed me was the silent slow-motion coach when it drove past the inkeeper's daughter. That was so inspired and surreally creepy that I felt like I must have seen it before. I probably have seen it in a movie made after this, but I wonder if it had been done before. Anybody know?

[–] ElectricWarlock 7 years ago

I have a new favorite scene since the last time I watched this. Now my favorite scene is when Gorobec almost kills Katia, thinking she is Princess Asa. He comes so close to making the worst mistake of his entire life, and if he would've noticed that crucifix Katia was wearing just a few seconds later the ending would be completely different. But luckily for him he did and made the right choice.

[–] kenburke (2285) 8 months ago

When someone pulls off the witch's blouse - and you see her rotting bones!!!