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Horror film

Black Sunday (1960): Cast & Plot

Black Sunday (1960) movie poster

Black Sunday is a 1960 horror film directed by Mario Bava, starring Barbara Steele as Princess Asa Vajda / Katia Vajda, Enrico Olivieri and Arturo Dominici. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes.

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Black Sunday (1960) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Director
Mario Bava
Genre
Horror
Original language
Italian
Studio
Galatea Film
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Black Sunday About?

The premise of Black Sunday without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

An ancient witch, Asa Vajda, and her sinister servant Igor Jauvitch rise from the dead to launch a murderous quest to seize the body of Katia, the witch’s beautiful descendant who bears her exact likeness. A courageous doctor, aided by Katia’s relatives, battles the supernatural assault, promising a terrifying secret that will paralyze viewers with fear.

Black Sunday Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • gothic horror
  • iron mask
  • vampire
  • cobweb
  • italian gothic
  • flying bat
  • milking a cow
  • medieval times
  • burned at the stake
  • back from the dead
  • psychotronic film
  • year 1630
+38 more
  • 1630s
  • 17th century
  • female vampire
  • proto giallo
  • witch horror
  • the supernatural
  • the beyond
  • beyond the grave
  • vampire bite marks
  • vampire bite marks on neck
  • crucifix necklace
  • satan worshipper
  • ancestor
  • prologue
  • opening narration
  • chapel
  • princess
  • prince
  • look alike
  • look alike ancestor
  • reanimated corpse
  • inn
  • coachman
  • attacked by a bat
  • fireplace
  • portrait
  • transformation
  • rejuvenation
  • resurrection
  • back to life
  • grave
  • doppelganger
  • priest
  • discovering a dead body
  • vengeance
  • seduction
  • ruins
  • reference to napoleon bonaparte
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Cast & crew

Black Sunday Cast & Characters

Barbara Steele leads the cast as Princess Asa Vajda / Katia Vajda, with Enrico Olivieri as Prince Constantine Vajda and Arturo Dominici as Igor Javutich / Javuto. Directed by Mario Bava; 13 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Black Sunday

· 9 more
From the director

More from Mario Bava

More films directed by Mario Bava, best-rated first: Black Sabbath, Rabid Dogs, The Venus of Ille and Shock.

Full filmography
Plot

Black Sunday Plot Summary

What happens in Black Sunday from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1630s Moldavia, Princess Asa Vajda [Barbara Steele]—a vampiric witch—and her paramour Javutich [Arturo Dominici] are condemned to death for sorcery by Asa’s brother Griabi, and Asa vows vengeance by striking a curse on Griabi’s descendants. As part of a brutal rite, bronze death masks with sharp spikes are hammered into their faces, but a sudden storm prevents the villagers from burning them at the stake.

Full summary

The whole story of Black Sunday, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Black Sunday Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.

Black Sunday (1960) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]
  • Featurette Larry Cohen on BLACK SUNDAY
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Black Sunday?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actress portrays Princess Asa Vajda in the film?
Details

Black Sunday Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “Mask of the Demon” and “Revenge of the Vampire”.

Also known as
  • Mask of the Demon
  • Revenge of the Vampire
  • The Mask of Satan
  • Het Duivels-Masker
  • La máscara del demonio
  • Şeytanın Maskası
  • Qara Cümə
  • A Máscara do Demónio
  • Die Stunde, wenn Dracula kommt
  • Le Masque du démon
  • A démon maszkja
  • Η Μάσκα του Σατανά
+13 more
  • Djävulsmasken
  • Maska szatana
  • 撒旦的面具
  • A Máscara do Demônio
  • Маска Сатаны
  • Paholaisen naamio
  • 사탄의 가면
  • Маска Сатани
  • 血ぬられた墓標
  • Djævelens maske
  • La màscara del diable
  • Maska démona
  • Şeytanın Maskesi

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FAQ

Black Sunday FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Black Sunday, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Black Sunday?

Black Sunday runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was Black Sunday released?

Black Sunday was released on August 11, 1960.

Who directed Black Sunday?

Black Sunday was directed by Mario Bava.

More films by Mario Bava

Who is in the cast of Black Sunday?

Black Sunday stars Barbara Steele as Princess Asa Vajda / Katia Vajda, Enrico Olivieri as Prince Constantine Vajda and Arturo Dominici as Igor Javutich / Javuto, among 13 credited actors.

Does Black Sunday have a post-credit scene?

No. Black Sunday has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Black Sunday in?

The original language of Black Sunday is Italian.

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