Lust of the Vampire

Lust of the Vampire (original title I vampiri), directed by Riccardo Freda with cinematography by Mario Bava, is a film academic sources consider Italy's first horror film; it opened on April 5, 1957. The film originated from a bet Freda made with Titanus studio producers to write the script in a day and shoot the film in two weeks. Freda left the set in the final days of shooting, and Mario Bava completed the rest of the film, though the official director credit remained with Freda. The film was a commercial failure in Italy but earned a satisfying gross abroad. Who it's for: anyone curious about Italy's first horror film, made on a bet and completed, uncredited, by its own cinematographer. Who it's not for: viewers looking for a traditional vampire film, since this is a gothic detective story with science fiction elements.