C.H Newell This is the first of Lamberto Bava's films I introduced myself to, having loved a number of his father Mario's works (specifically Bay of Blood and Black Sunday, to name a couple).I particularly enjoyed the story. It was dramatic, horrific, and at times playful. There are some fine, shocking images in here. Specifically the final one- though some may say it's more comedic, I still found it a little terrifying because it was just not something I was at all expecting, in any way. The acting was fairly decent, as far as I'm concerned. It was the tension, the gloom of the film that all really latched onto me. From the opening scenes, Macabre is full of dreadful atmosphere, and I've since seen a little more of Bava to enjoy. I give this film a 10 out of 10; I didn't anticipate loving this film, but I really did. Those expecting a flat out splattery gore film will be disappointed. However, tt was enough macabre without going overboard, and yet there was enough sick, depraved behaviour going on to satisfy any horror hound, such as myself.

Scarecrow-88 Jane Baker(Bernice Stegers),a housewife and mother of two children, has been participating in a torrid affair with Fred Kellerman(Roberto Posse)at a house owned by blind Robert Duval(Stanko Molnar)and his mom. Jane's psychotic daughter Lucy(Vernica Zinny), who knows about mother's affair, drowns her brother in protest to the adultery. Jane, in a state of turmoil when she finds out about her son's supposed "accidental drowning", hurries lover Fred to get home as fast as they can resulting in a horrific car crash. Fred is decapitated by a steel rail that smashes into the window sending Jane into a maddening shock with her being institutionalized. After spending some time in the crazy-house, Jane returns to the place once shared with lover Fred and separates from husband Leslie. Robert falls in love with Jane, but begins to notice passionate noises of pleasure sounding from her room(she decides to move in the room where her and Fred shared such fond memories). When Robert hears who she's "making love to", he begins to worry a bit. We also find that Jane is keeping something locked in her fridge freezer. Every night, Jane shares passion with a specific person no longer living and the curiosity of this tryst drives Robert into some sick discoveries. Meanwhile, Lucy continues to play mind-games with her mentally fragile mother still secretly protesting what Jane done to her father. Lucy will also find out mommy's little dark secret which results in a disturbing, violent conclusion.Geez, this is one warped little flick, being Lamberto Bava's theatrical debut. Poor blind Robert has no clue what psychotics he would be dealing with. The film plays with the novelty of "what is in the freezer?" to the hilt, but I'm guessing most intelligent viewers will guess instantly. Still, this premise is just sick and..dare I say..macabre, you can't help but credit Bava for playing it for all it's worth. I think the final minutes of this horror tale will widen eyes. The child violence isn't restrained. Stegers really carries her character Jane, whose sanity is flimsy at best, to the brink..it's a tour-de-force performance. Zinny, as one of those evil kids you just want to strangle, also brings chills to her role as Lucy. I have to say that I think this is a bit underrated.Oh, and that final freeze frame is just golden..Bava puts a final stamp to the madness of the whole ordeal.

Lee Eisenberg Mario Bava's son Lamberto made his solo directorial debut with this semi-horror flick based on some grisly events in New Orleans. In this case, a woman (Bernice Stegers) sees her extramarital lover decapitated, and then starts carrying on the grossest affair imaginable. Throughout much of the movie, its a little hard to tell where the movie's going, but the last ten minutes expose the ugly truth. "Macabro" (or just plain "Macabre", depending on which language you want to use) should be pretty edifying for any Euro-horror fan - there are the required scenes of the woman's big breasts (and even more of her) - but it takes a long time to get really comprehensible. Also starring Stanko Molnar and Veronica Zinny.The DVD includes an interview with Lamberto Bava explaining how the movie came about. It was in fact based on a true story that happened in New Orleans (although they filmed most of the movie in their native Italy); it's hard to imagine how some of this stuff could have been real, but I'll believe it. Mario Bava attended the premier, and after watching it, said "Now I can die in peace."; two months later, he passed away. Veronica Zinny, who played the daughter, apparently never starred in another movie.IMDb lists the movie's language as Italian, but it looked like they were speaking English with no dubbing (then again, maybe movies have gotten better with dubbing). It's worth seeing, if only once.I wonder whether or not they noticed that Stanko Molnar's character had the same name as the actor who Tom in the "Godfather" movies.

Jonny_Numb You gotta admit, the idea is ingeniously twisted in its simplicity...Jane (Bernice Stegers), an adulterous New Orleans housewife, is involved in a car crash that decapitates her lover. One year later, she is discharged from a mental hospital and returns to her lover's former residence, where she is lusted after by blind caretaker Robert (Stanko Molnar) and plagued by visits from her Greyhound-faced daughter Lucy (Veronica Zinny).Questions arise: What is the explanation for those lustful, lovemaking noises coming from the upstairs apartment? Why is Jane so protective of her freezer? Will Robert ever get a chance to tap that action? Will Lucy ever shut the f*ck up? With strong location shooting in New Orleans and an accompanying jazzy score, you can practically feel the sweltering menace in the air.True to its title, "Macabre" is generally restrained in tone, instead opting to create a very effective mood of overall bizarro. At its best, it has the feel of a polished anthology entry (such material would be right at home on "The Twilight Zone" or even "Masters of Horror"); at its worst, it feels overlong and silly. The third-act twist, while pretty predictable, works because the cast is so ravenously committed to the material. As a result, "Macabre" is a finely polished debut from Lamberto Bava (son of Mario), suspenseful and mysterious (in a supernatural kind of way), but just too overdrawn.