Black Sunday 1960

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.

Two centuries later, Dr. Choma Kruvajan [Andrea Checchi] and his assistant Dr. Andrej Gorobec [John Richardson] are traveling through Moldavia toward a medical conference when a broken wheel forces them to seek shelter near an ancient crypt. There, they stumble upon Asa’s tomb and, while examining her death mask, Kruvajan accidentally damages the protective cross and panel. He removes the mask, and a drop of his blood drips onto Asa, reviving the centuries‑old witch. Outside, Kruvajan and Gorobec encounter Katia Vajda [Barbara Steele], who explains she lives with her father and brother, Constantine Vajda [Enrico Olivieri], in a nearby castle that the villagers deem haunted. Gorobec is instantly drawn to Katia’s haunting beauty and sadness, while Kruvajan’s blood has already begun to stir the dead.

Javutich travels to Prince Vajda’s castle, where Vajda, terrified, raises a crucifix to ward off the reanimated threat. Constantine sends for Kruvajan, but a servant is slain on the way. Javutich leads Kruvajan to Asa’s crypt, and the witch hypnotizes him, demanding the rest of his blood. Asa then kisses Kruvajan, turning him into her loyal servant. Under Asa’s command, Kruvajan tends to Vajda and even orders the crucifix removed from the room, making it easier for Javutich to return and murder Kruvajan.

Asa’s plan hinges on draining Katia’s life, for Katia is physically Asa’s reincarnation. Puzzled by Kruvajan’s sudden death, Gorobec questions Sonya—Innkeeper’s Daughter [Germana Dominici]—who witnessed Javutich escort Kruvajan to the castle. A priest and Gorobec go to Javutich’s grave and uncover Kruvajan’s coffin, realizing he has become undead. They kill him by driving a nail through his eye.

Javutich then throws Constantine into a death pit and carries Katia to Asa. Asa drains Katia of her youth, but the crucifix around Katia’s neck repels her. Gorobec fights to reach Katia, while Javutich pushes him to the pit’s edge. Constantine gathers his remaining strength to pull Javutich into the pit and push Gorobec to safety. Gorobec finds Asa and Katia; Asa masquerades as Katia, trying to convince Gorobec that Katia is the witch. When he confronts her, he discovers a fleshless skeletal frame beneath her robe. A priest arrives with torch-bearing villagers, and they burn Asa to death. Katia awakens, restored to life and beauty, and is reunited with Gorobec.