Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)
A magnificently mad tale from Mario Bava about John Harrington, the wealthy owner of a modelling agency whose mother was murdered when he was a child. Alas in Bluebeard fashion, Harrington is also a madman who enjoys hacking up his models in their wedding gowns with his trusty hatchet. He does this as each time he kills, his mothers murderer's features become a little clearer in his mind. Naturally he murders his annoying wife who unbeknown to him comes back as a ghost who every one can see but him.
The story is ludicrous but Bava makes it something a bit special with his use of colour which adds great effect to the horror themes. In fact Bava's directing is flawless, his camera flourishes giving the film real style especially in the kill sequences. There is also a brilliantly constructed scene where Harrington seems on the brink of breakdown amid a room full of dummies wearing wedding gowns. Bava's camera techniques make this a genuinely disorientating experience for both Harrington and the viewer.
Hatchet for the Honeymoon perhaps isn't one of Bava's finest films but this compelling effort is definitely near the top of the second tier. - Recommended.
The UK Anchor Bay disc also has a 60 minute documentary - Mario Bava: Master of the Macabre - hosted by Mark Kermode which features interviews with Bava's son Lamberto, regular Bava producer Alfredo Leone, directors Tim Burton, John Carpenter and Joe Dante and UK critics Kim Newman and Allan Bryce among others. It's an enjoyable piece on his life and career and although it doesn't go into great detail about all his films, the interviewees talk at length about Black Sunday, Black Sabbath, The Evil Eye, A Bay of Blood (With Sean S Cunningham), Planet of the Vampires, Baron Blood and Lisa and the Devil.
Some will learn nothing, others will learn a lot. I was especially interested in Samuel Z. Arkoff's accounts of how he tried to get Bava to work for him at American International. Oddly there are a lot of clips from major movies influenced by Bava such as Friday the 13th part 2, Sleepy Hollow and Alien which general special feature docs don't tend to get access to.
On the whole an hour on Bava clearly is not enough but Master of the Macabre is still a fascinating and entertaining watch.
As far as i am aware this documentary is only available on the UK Anchor Bay dvd and the Italian Black Sunday disc.
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