As far as films in the gothic horror genre go, The Long Hair of Death or I lunghi capelli della morte as it is originally known, is better than most people make it out to be. There is some horror to be had amidst all the drama that takes place, but it runs like as an underlying current, a slow buildup that starts from the first moments of the movie until the eventual climax. The horror of man is on full display in this one, man in all his wanton selfishness and destructiveness as only he can be and Antonio Margheriti delivers a strong film to that effect. Many find the picture to be slowly paced which is a fact and for those looking to see something exciting and full of the usual horror tropes will ultimately be disappointed. Instead, Margheriti gives us classic horror full of suspense and revenge with a little bit of a curse for good measure after a woman is burned at the stake.

The revenge plot, though not highly original in origin, always makes for a good film as it can go in any number of directions. One thing that remains constant with films that use said device is that you know someone is going to pay for whatever it is that he or she has done to whomever felt wronged by it. In this case it is a man named Kurt Humboldt, played by George Ardisson. Due to his actions, a woman was killed quite horrifically and as such, what follows is vengeance given form from beyond the grave. What makes this film so good is that despite the pace it takes, seeing the truly villainous Kurt get what is coming to him from the place he least expects it, really quite satisfying.

The star of this film and the draw more than anyone else is Barbara Steele, a woman no stranger to horror movies. Steele plays Mary, the daughter of the supposed witch who was burned during the opening scenes of the film and who returns to carry out her mother’s revenge. As Mary, Steele is conniving and even a little scary as you are a little unsure of just what it is she is up to at first, but as things soon become apparent, the unease and the sense of trepidation she brings grows with every passing minute. Known as much for her stunning beauty as she was her talent, Steele was perfectly cast in the role for nobody ever expects the beautiful woman to be the cause of any perpetuated evil and for at least fifty percent of the time, it turns out to just the case. Though it may be commonplace in horror films, it is one of those things that people who love horror always tend to expect while hoping for something different. If the woman in question is not the damsel in distress, she is the villain and it is always fun to find out which. Here, Steele is not necessarily the victim, but neither is she the hero.

The Long Hair of Death is a film that builds its horror up organically, taking the time to let the suspense and the tension grow so that when that big moment comes at the end, the impact it delivers is worth every minute that came before it. The movie is not outwardly frightening as it features none of those things that might scare a person normally, but it does focus on the actions of one man who is quite horrifying in his own way. Life and death, romance and revenge, The Long Hair of Death has it all and as far as horror films go, works beautifully.

4 out of 5