An effective example of the giallo genre.

a brutal, bludgeoning film, utterly misanthropic in its outlook, and all the better for its refusal to compromise in exposing human nature at its ugly, imitable worst.

If Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 Psycho is considered the grandfather of the slasher flick, then Mario Bava’s 1971 giallo A Bay of Blood can be designated as its demented uncle.

It’s fascinating to see the roots of the slasher genre on display throughout A Bay of Blood, but the scattered plot and vast array of one note characters make this film difficult to enjoy despite the gory kills and Bava’s skill as a cinematographer.