Macabre  | 1980 | Italy | Lamberto Bava

The debut feature of Mario Bava’s equally talented son Lamberto, Macabre is an evasive beast when it comes to genre, with hints of giallo, thriller and melodrama all in one. Married Jane meets up with her lover Fred, only to be struck with tragedy when she hears her son has drowned in the bathtub at home. As Fred hurries to get her back home, a car accident occurs, decapitating Fred and causing Jane to lapse into a mental breakdown. Upon her release from an institution, she moves into her secret pad indefinitely, arousing the suspicions of her blind landlord who frequently hears amorous moaning and the uttering of “Fred”. No one is prepared for the eventual horrific reality of what’s going on in the apartment. The film’s twist-ruining cover artwork was plastered all over the tabloids during the scare, leading the film to be listed on some constabulary bulletins and resulting in countless seizures. The film was ultimately not prosecuted however and copies were eventually returned to their owners.