Leaving his studies behind for a time, Peter Kleist (Antonio Cantafora) travels to Austria to connect with his family history. He discovers that one of his ancestors earned the name "Baron Blood," and was considered a cruel individual who incurred a witch’s curse after she was put to death. Following an encounter with Eva (Elke Sommer), they playfully recite a spell at his family's castle, unintentionally resurrecting the infamous Baron, which coincides with a series of deaths. Joseph Cotton appears as a mysterious man in a wheelchair who buys the estate at auction. Mario Bava’s original Italian title for “Baron Blood” (1972), "The horrors of Castle Nuremberg" (in translation), accurately sums up what the film is about, existing somewhere between Hammer gothic horror and the upcoming slasher films. What stands out most is the castle's eerie atmosphere, reminiscent of earlier horror movies like “The Terror” (1963), “Bloody Pit of Horror” (1965) and “The Devil’s Nightmare” (1971). It surpasses the over-the-top "Bloody Pit," but is comparable to the others, though I have my own preferences for each. The film suffers from some illogical plot points regarding the witch's unusual curse and the Baron's inexplicable powers. Still, it’s a strong example of gothic horror due to its atmosphere. Antonio Cantafora resembles an Italian version of Peter Fonda, although he doesn’t seem quite as imposing. Elke Sommer provides most of the film’s feminine appeal, aside from characters like Christina/Elizabeth (played by Rada Rassimov, who bears a resemblance to Celine Dion). Young Nicoletta Elmi (Gretchen) would later become a recognizable actress. The movie has a running time of roughly one hour and thirty-seven minutes and was filmed at Burg Kreuzenstein (castle), Klosterneuburg (street scenes), and Korneuburg in Lower Austria, as well as Vienna. Writer Vincent G. Fotre previously worked as a professional tennis player before writing screenplays. GRADE: B-/B

Source on TMDB