There is a lot of debate over the “first” slasher, and A Bay of Blood gets brought into the discussion for good reason. Packed full of moody, tense atmosphere, brutal kills, and plot twists, it’s one of Bava’s more controversial films. Critics were put off by the excessive gore and weak plot, especially when compared to his earlier films. However, the legacy of A Bay of Blood is undeniable. It’s a clear inspiration for the slasher genre, and several of the kills have even been recreated in later films.
- Directed by: Mario Bava
- Written by: Mario Bava. Giuseppe Zaccariello. Filippo Ottoni
- Starring: Claudine Auger Luigi Pistilli Claudio Camaso
Production History
The path from page to screen was lengthy, and didn’t start with Bava. Dino De Laurentis wanted to work with the screenwriter for Cat o’ Nine Tails, Dardano Sacchetti, after learning that he was no longer working with Argento. De Laurentis brought Bava onboard with the idea of creating a giallo. After the first draft of the script was completed, disagreements with the production and writing teams led to everyone but Bava leaving the project.
The new producer, Giuseppe Zaccariello, brought in Filippo Ottoni to complete the shooting script. With a minimal budget, Bava pulled double-duty as director and cinematographer, making the most of the location he had to work with.
Twitch of The Death Nerve
A Bay of Blood was released under several different titles; it was announced as Antefatto, premiered in theaters as Ecology of Crime, rereleased as Chain Reaction, and then re-released as A Bay of Blood. In America, it was released under the titles Carnage and Twitch of the Death Nerve, the latter being more commonly used in grindhouse double- and triple-features at drive-ins.
Under any title, A Bay of Blood remains an important bridge between mystery-thrillers and the more horror-filled slashers.
Recap and Review – Spoilers Ahead!
It starts with a woman in a wheelchair, Countess Frederica, being murdered by an unseen man in black, giallo-style gloves, only to immediately reveal his face. We don’t know it yet, but for simplicity sake, this is her husband Fillipo. He sets her death up to look like a suicide, only to be attacked by an assailant shortly afterwards.
Real estate agent Frank and his secretary (and lover) Laura are trying to gain control of the bay that the countess owned. Now that the countess’s death has been ruled a suicide by the police, Frank can finish the deal. He heads off leaving Laura behind for now.
Meet the Locals
Back at the bay we see some interesting conversations about death between Paulo Fossati, an entomologist, and Simon, a local fisherman. They talk about what it means to kill as it applies to both their jobs, and if either of them is a murderer. We’ll see more examples of this as we get further into the film, but there are so many strange and wonderful characters in A Bay of Blood. None of them feels particularly realistic, but they’re all fascinating to watch.
As Frank works on keeping his deal intact, two young adult couples head to the bay. Bobby, Brunhilde, Denise, and Duke find the abandoned mansion and sneak in. They are unaware they are being watched by a mysterious stranger.
Paulo and his wife, Anna, a fortune teller, bicker while he examines his bugs. Paulo hates the count, Filippo, because he wanted to destroy the bay. This is another example of the fantastic characters and their interactions; these two bicker like they hate each other, but can recite details about each other’s jobs and passions in a way that indicates they have to be listening closely and carefully to each other. For some reason, that always amuses me.
The Doomed Teens
Back to the partying teens. Bobby lets Brunhilde, a wildly attractive blonde German girl, go to the bay by herself to go skinny dipping. This establishes Bobby as the dumbest person in the movie. Many people here do not deserve their fate; the jury is out on him. This is also the lead up to the most referenced, if not directly copied, sequences in the movie.
Brunhilde’s swimming disturbs a body sunken in the lake, its Fillipo. After she discovers, it she runs to find Bobby. Before she can find him, the mysterious stranger finds her and chases her though the grounds surrounding the abandoned mansion . Right before she can reach safety, the killer cuts her throat from behind with a billhook.
Bobby is sitting by himself in a dark living room. After he hears a pot break outside, he goes to investigate and gets the same billhook through the face. This is a great kill; it’s a mostly realistic practical effect, and it’s fast and brutal. It’s so effective, we’ll see it a few more times in the Friday the 13th series.
As we will with the next kill: a two-for-one with a spear. As Denise and Duke are in bed, the killer gets them both.
The Other Main Character Arrives
And finally, we meet our last set of characters: Renata and Albert, as well as their two young children. Renata is Fillipo’s daughter, come to investigate her father’s disappearance, and her first stop is Paolo. It’s an awkward conversation; as Anna thinks Fillipo killed his wife, Paolo talks to his pet insect, and Renata learns of Simon, an illegitimate son that might fight Renata for ownership of the bay.
Renata does what any normal person would do: insults her husband a bit, and then plans to murder her stepbrother. She discovers her father’s body on Simon’s boat while talking to him, but he denies knowledge of it. Simon directs them to Frank’s cabin so Renata can recover from the shock. There, she discovers the bodies of murdered couples.
Frank Wants to Kill Too.
Frank tries to kill her with an axe, but she stabs him with scissors.
Paolo tries to call for help, but Albert strangles him before he can reach anyone. Meanwhile, Laura, Frank’s partner (remember her?) is on her way to the bay.
Anna is investigating what is going on, and discovers Frank face down on the floor. She ends up suddenly decapitated. Although we don’t see the killer, Renata and Albert meet up later and Renata makes it clear, she did it.
Don’t Forget Simon
While Renata and Albert wait for their opportunity to take out Simon, Laura arrives. She discovers the very wounded Frank, and he sends her to get Simon. This does not go well. Simon has discovered that Frank and Laura convinced Fillipo to kill Frederica. She denies her involvement, but a flashback shows her willing cooperation. Simon ends up strangling her. He heads to the abandoned mansion, realizing that he was set up by Frank, only to be murdered by Albert. Simon’s death is quick, and has a great moment of Simon coughing blood on Albert’s hands, something the beaten-down husband reacts visibly to. Is it on the nose? Yes, but it’s visually great for his character.
They search the house for the deed and paperwork for the bay as the lights in house get shut off. Albert searches the house with only matches to light his way. As he moves into a pitch-black room, Frank attacks him. Albert gets the upper hand on the wounded man and kills him.
The End?
Renata and Albert burn the paperwork and celebrate their murder spree. But, they left a shotgun within the reach of a child, and they are shot and killed by their kids, who don’t know it’s not a toy. Unaware that they have ended a long and brutal cycle of death and probably generational violence, the kids go to play at the bay.
A Bay of Blood Death Summary
So, just to sum up: Frederica was killed by Filippo, who was killed by Simon. Simon also killed the two couples and Laura. He, Frank, and Paolo are murdered by Albert. Anna is murdered by Renata, and Renata and Albert are accidentally killed by their children. All of this over control of the bay. Makes sense right?
How Is It a Slasher?
Location, inventive kills, abandoned children looking for their rightful inheritance. A Bay of Blood has a lot of pieces of the genre, while not using the formula that would become popular in later years. Many elements reappear in later summer camp slashers. Even though this is a different type of setting its tonally familiar.
The location is remote , and its isolation from the modern world is a large part of the plot. Everyone is fighting over the land to commercialize it. Those who do not respect the natural beauty of the bay will suffer. The odd characters reinforce the feeling that the bay exists apart from the normal world.
The Killer
There are a few, and that’s one of the biggest departures from the genre. Once we hit the third act, this really becomes a murder free-for-all. Every adult in this movie dies. Simon is our M.V.P. with six kills. He also embodies most of the standard killer tropes; he rarely appears killing on-screen and stalks the couples before striking.. I’m also pretty sure he’s got some serious mommy issues, since she’s got him living in a shack on the property and not, like, in the giant mansion.
One of the best parts of A Bay of Blood is the use of the killer’s POV to enhance tension. It’s one of my favorite examples of this particular camera style, because its mainly used for Simon’s kills. It establishes him as the primary killer, and sets the tone early on during the teen couple killing spree.
Final Thoughts
A Bay of Blood upped the ante in gore and effects, and inspired future directors so heavily, they’re still referencing the kills. It may be one of Bava’s most controversial films, but it’s also one not to miss. Combining elements of giallo, thrillers, and the yet-to-be-established slasher genre, A Bay of Blood may not be Bava’s most critically acclaimed film, but it had the most lasting impact.
A Bay Of Blood is now streaming on Shudder.
Read my other slasher reviews here:
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