Danza Macabra, a 1964 film directed by Antonio Margheriti.
On the outskirts of London, journalist Alan Foster is tasked with interviewing Edgar Allan Poe.
The journalist remains skeptical when Poe reveals that his stories are based on real events and, therefore, he doesn’t consider himself a novelist but merely a chronicler.
As a bet, Alan agrees to spend the night of November 2nd alone in the abandoned castle that once belonged to Lord Blackwood: if he manages not to flee before dawn, he will receive 100 pounds as a reward.
In the castle, he meets a beautiful woman, Elizabeth, but fails to realize that she is actually a ghost…
During the long night, the woman makes him relive the events that led to her death and that of the other ghosts inhabiting the castle.
Alan becomes involved and falls in love with Elizabeth, unaware that he has been chosen as the sacrificial victim that the ghosts need to return to life for at least one night…
Elizabeth saves him from the ghosts that want to kill him, sacrificing her own existence, and dissolves with the first light of dawn, leaving Alan near the castle…
But fate decides to keep them united: the gate is closed by an unnatural and mysterious gust of wind that hits Alan in the back of the head with one of its hooked bars… Alan dies standing, while the voice of Elizabeth echoes in his head…
Here are some interesting facts about the film Danza Macabra (1964), directed by Antonio Margheriti, also known internationally as Castle of Blood:
- Collaboration with Sergio Corbucci: Although Antonio Margheriti is credited as the sole director, *Danza Macabra* was co-written and co-directed by the famous director Sergio Corbucci, known for his western films such as *Django*.
- Low budget and gothic atmosphere: The film was made with a very modest budget, but Margheriti skillfully utilized gothic elements like the castle, shadows, and a dark atmosphere to create a visually impactful and suggestive work.
- Barbara Steele: British actress Barbara Steele, queen of Italian gothic horror in the 1960s, plays the role of the mysterious Elizabeth. Her enigmatic presence helped cement her status as a horror icon.
- Adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe: The film is loosely inspired by a story by Edgar Allan Poe, blending gothic and supernatural elements typical of his works. Poe himself appears in the film, portrayed by Silvano Tranquilli.
- Remake and sequel: Danza Macabra was so popular that it inspired a remake in 1971 titled *Web of the Spider*, directed by Margheriti himself, with some changes in the cast and plot.
These interesting facts show how, despite being a low-budget work, the film managed to leave a significant mark in gothic horror cinema.
