I Vampiri (1957) is fascinating as a piece of Italian movie history. It’s the country’s first talkie horror and an early directorial gig for Mario Bava who took over from Riccardo Freda after he quit the production. A bit stilted and stiff, I Vampiri is certainly far from Italy’s best genre offerings, but it does feature some inspired moments. Perhaps the most impressive sequence is this incredible transformation, which makes use of make-up and lighting effects pioneered in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931).
