Greetings, Boils & Ghouls...
... welcome to 'Day Twenty-Two' of "Awesome Horror Streams for Hallowe'en Screams on Roku" in which I will suggest my top picks of the fright flicks from the carefully curated catalogue of macabre movies available via the 'Shudder UK' streaming service - any of which can then be streamed to your television using the magic of Roku player - so, let's dim the lights... and prepare for more frights! :-O
If you read my Hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - published on 30th September, then you will know that I plan to post one Hallowe'en / Horror related article every day, throughout the month of October, each featuring one horror movie from the current 'Shudder UK' content library. With recommendations for thirty-one of the best fright flicks I can find, by the end of the month, this means you should have plenty of great choices for your macabre movie viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en... as well as ensuring some top-notch cinematic scares come October 31st! ;-)
If you read my Hallowe'en blogathon preview - FOUND HERE - published on 30th September, then you will know that I plan to post one Hallowe'en / Horror related article every day, throughout the month of October, each featuring one horror movie from the current 'Shudder UK' content library. With recommendations for thirty-one of the best fright flicks I can find, by the end of the month, this means you should have plenty of great choices for your macabre movie viewing as we count down the days to Hallowe'en... as well as ensuring some top-notch cinematic scares come October 31st! ;-)
Black Sabbath [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) [Movie Still]
PHOTO CREDIT: Where The Long Tail Ends
For my twenty-second instalment in this series of posts I'm going to suggest another feature-length movie from Italy, once more directed by Mario Bava, except this one was first released in 1963 under the title of "I tre volti della paura"... although, British and American audiences will (perhaps) be more familiar with it under the alternative title of "Black Sabbath" which was also the world-wide English title reserved for this movie. Based on a screenplay co-written by Marcello Fondato along with Mario Bava and Alberto Bevilacqua, which was freely adapted from classic tales written by Anton Chekhov, Aleksei Tolstoy, and Guy de Maupassant. The resultant anthology features a trio of atmospheric tales about: A woman terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from an escaped prisoner from her past; a Russian count in the early 1800s who stumbles upon a family in the countryside trying to destroy a particularly vicious line of vampires; and a Victorian-era nurse who makes a fateful decision while preparing the corpse of one of her patients - an elderly medium who died during a seance! :-O
If you haven't seen the film before, here is a brief taster in the shape of an original trailer for this most excellent classic horror anthology, courtesy of 'Retro Picture Show' and their 'YouTube' channel:-
Black Sabbath (1963) [British Quad Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Deep Fried Movies
If you haven't seen the film before, here is a brief taster in the shape of an original trailer for this most excellent classic horror anthology, courtesy of 'Retro Picture Show' and their 'YouTube' channel:-
If you'd like to know more... there's a full list of the cast & credits on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) listing for "Black Sabbath" (1963), FOUND HERE, which also includes a full storyline / plot summary as well as box office stats, technical specs & much more. For die-hard fans, there's even more info to be had from the Wikipedia Page for Mario Bava's "Black Sabbath" (1963) which is available VIA THIS LINK, and may help to fuel your appetite for (yet) another screening. Although, if you're as much of a fan of this classic horror anthology as I am, or happen to enjoy Mario Bava's films in general, it probably won't take too much persuading for you to watch this again! ;-) :-)
The good news for Roku users in the USA is "Black Sabbath" [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) is also available to stream via the 'Shudder' service there. Another subscription option for Roku users in the United States comes courtesy of the 'Fandor' streaming service, and there is even a free-to-stream option (ad-supported) via 'Tubi TV'. Meanwhile, those wishing to rent the film can do so through the Roku channel for 'Amazon Video' where the fees are (currently) USD $2.99 (SD) or USD $3.99 (HD) for anyone without a subscription to the 'Shudder' service. Fortunately for Canadian streamers, while this classic horror anthology does not seem to be available for streaming via 'Shudder' in Canada, the same options to watch "Black Sabbath" [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) via 'Fandor' and 'Tubi TV' are available to Canadians, just as they are to Roku users in the United States. So, there's no need to scour the internet for streaming sources... because Roku has enough options to take care of you! :-)
Boris Karloff as 'Gorca' in Black Sabbath (1963) [Movie Still]
PHOTO CREDIT: Nerdist
Anyway... you probably guessed already but, if not, this film (like the others from this series of posts) is also available via the 'Shudder' streaming service and can be easily viewed on any Roku device via their dedicated channel (app) for these streaming media players. There are no other opportunities for UK Roku users to watch "Black Sabbath" [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) so, if you don't already subscribe to 'Shudder', now might be a good time to take advantage of their FREE TRIAL offer - although, if you've done so before, I'd suggest taking a look at some possible free alternatives instead, because (unless they're trying to tempt you back again) these promotions are usually reserved for "new blood" only! And, you never know, there may be some free sources available online that are compatible with Roku and which can be used to stream "Black Sabbath" (1963). However, as my original idea for this month-long blogathon was to suggest thirty-one great Hallowe'en / Horror themed movies from the fang-tastic 'Shudder UK', I recommend you stream it there if possible! ;-) :-)
If you haven't already added it to your channel selection, you will find "Shudder" listed among the "Film & TV" channels in the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. You can easily install it on your Roku by navigating to the built-in 'Channel Store' (accessed via "Streaming Channels" from the home screen on your Roku device) and scrolling through the options until you see the channel icon (pictured above). It's completely FREE-TO-ADD so, once you've located it in the list of channels, just click the "OK" button on your Roku remote to select it and then click "OK" again where it says 'Add channel' to install it on your Roku player(s). Having done that, it's simply a case of launching the channel via the 'Go to channel' option and navigating the on-screen menu to log-in (if you already have an account, but haven't yet done so) or start your free trial (if you are new to the service) and, once you see 'Shudder TV' playing on the screen, just push the "DOWN" arrow on your Roku remote to get to the main menu... from where you can "Search" for "Black Sabbath", and then press "OK" on your remote to select and 'Play' this classic horror anthology which, for the record, runs to 1h 32mins.
The good news for Roku users in the USA is "Black Sabbath" [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) is also available to stream via the 'Shudder' service there. Another subscription option for Roku users in the United States comes courtesy of the 'Fandor' streaming service, and there is even a free-to-stream option (ad-supported) via 'Tubi TV'. Meanwhile, those wishing to rent the film can do so through the Roku channel for 'Amazon Video' where the fees are (currently) USD $2.99 (SD) or USD $3.99 (HD) for anyone without a subscription to the 'Shudder' service. Fortunately for Canadian streamers, while this classic horror anthology does not seem to be available for streaming via 'Shudder' in Canada, the same options to watch "Black Sabbath" [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) via 'Fandor' and 'Tubi TV' are available to Canadians, just as they are to Roku users in the United States. So, there's no need to scour the internet for streaming sources... because Roku has enough options to take care of you! :-)
Black Sabbath [aka I tre volti della paura] (1963) [Movie Still]
PHOTO CREDIT: Cathode Ray Tube
Finally, to round-off the twenty-second instalment in my month-long blogathon on 'Day Twenty-Two' for this edition of 'Countdown To Halloween', here's more FRIGHTENINGLY FUN FILM FACTS... for example: did you know that this film served as inspiration for the naming of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath? In 1968, the band (then called Earth) was playing a small club in Birmingham, UK. Across the street was a movie theatre showing the film "Black Sabbath" by Mario Bava. The band noticed that more people were in line to see the movie than had come to see the band. No doubt they realised "horror sells tickets", and made the decision to change the band's name to Black Sabbath! :-)
Meanwhile, for that full cinema experience, here's a few of the other film posters that movie-goers in 1963 (and more recently) would have encountered depending on their location around the world:
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Italian Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Alternative Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [French Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Mubi
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [German Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: CinemaTerror
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Danish Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Contemporary Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Spanish Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Spanish Poster #2]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Spanish Poster #3]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Pressbook - Front Cover]
PHOTO CREDIT: From Zombo's Closet
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Italian Poster #2]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [USA One Sheet Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [USA Three Sheet Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [USA Lobby Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [USA Insert Poster]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
"Black Sabbath" (1963) [Italian Poster #3]
PHOTO CREDIT: Pinterest
Finally, to round-off the twenty-second instalment in my month-long blogathon on 'Day Twenty-Two' for this edition of 'Countdown To Halloween', here's more FRIGHTENINGLY FUN FILM FACTS... for example: did you know that this film served as inspiration for the naming of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath? In 1968, the band (then called Earth) was playing a small club in Birmingham, UK. Across the street was a movie theatre showing the film "Black Sabbath" by Mario Bava. The band noticed that more people were in line to see the movie than had come to see the band. No doubt they realised "horror sells tickets", and made the decision to change the band's name to Black Sabbath! :-)
Boris Karloff as 'Gorca' in Black Sabbath (1963) [Movie Still]
PHOTO CREDIT: Top250.tv
Other interesting tidbits of trivia include the fact that this is the only film in which the horror icon Boris Karloff plays a vampire. It is also significant in the evolution of the 'Giallo' genre, on account of one segment from the movie, 'The Telephone', being the first Italian thriller to be shot in colour. For those who may not be fluent in Italian, the original title of the movie: "I tre volti della paura" means "The Three Faces of Fear", with all three stories closely related to the dead in some way: like fear of death, the undead (vampires), and the terror surrounding a dead woman. Also noteworthy is the fact that director Mario Bava's father, Eugenio Bava, created and sculpted the head for the ghost in 'The Drop of Water' segment... as well as the severed head for 'The Wurdalak' with Boris Karloff!