Mario Bava is the famous director and cinematographer best remembered for his long string of horror classics such as BLACK SABBATH, BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, and BLACK SUNDAY. But Bava also applied his trademark cinematic talents to several worthy projects outside the horror genre, namely the Westerns THE ROAD TO FORT ALAMO and ROY COLT AND WINCHESTER JACK. He also did a string of peblums including HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD, ERIK THE CONQUERER, LAST OF THE VIKINGS, and KNIVES OF THE AVENGER. Image Entertainment selected the little-seen KNIVES OF THE AVENGER as one of their first non-horror offerings in their Mario Bava DVD Collection. So far, Image’s Bava Collection, and individual efforts from Anchor Bay (BEYOND THE DOOR 2) VCI Home Video (BLOOD AND BLACK LACE), and MGM (PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES), have focused only on the director’s skills within the horror genre. Image is the first to showcase Bava’s equally good films from other genres, and they should be applauded for that.

KNIVES OF THE AVENGER is very unique among Sword and Sandal pictures, as Mario Bava gives it the look and feel of a Spaghetti Western (which were popular at the time), right down to the oscillating harmonica music as Cameron Mitchell trudges across desert terrain on horseback. Then the pseudo father-son relationship established between Rurik and Moki is lifted straight from SHANE. There’s a great a scene where Rurik and Hagen square off inside an old tavern, which could easily pass for a Western saloon. Things like these put into perspective the Western influence in this picture. KNIVES OF THE AVENGER is essentially an action picture, but Bava puts the focus on these characters and their relationships with each other. Most of the action sequences are ineffective by today’s standards, except for the one where Cameron Mitchell duels with Giancomo Rossi Stuart. Because of Rurik’s deadly precision with throwing knives, the action is always short. The principal cast including Cameron Mitchell, Elissa Pichelli, Gianconi Rossi-Stuart, and Fausto Tozzi bring something fresh to their roles.

Considering what Bava had to work with in KNIVES OF THE AVENGER, he pulled off a miracle. Supposedly, the director came aboard the ailing project mere weeks before filming was scheduled to commence. Bava completely re-conceptualized the movie, something that probably disturbed the actors as they probably had to relearn the script. Bava relocated the production to the scenic stretch of beachside property where he loves to shoot his films. The limited production values would surely spell doom at the box office in the hands of a lesser director. There is very little here that you’d see in a typical peblum production; there are no grand sets, no epic armies, and no endless parade of handmaidens in skimpy outfits. However, Bava successfully crafts KNIVES OF THE AVENGERS in such a manner that it rises above it’s low budget origins. And he succeeds in presenting KNIVES OF THE AVENGER with his unique artistic style. So despite this not being a horror film, there is no mistaking that Bava touch.

The DVD contains detailed linear notes by Bava expert Tim Lucas. From the Special Features menu, you can read a bio and filmography for Mario Bava. There is also a filmography for Cameron Mitchell. Then you can peruse behind the scenes stills and poster ad art for KNIVES OF THE AVENGER. You can viewer trailers for:

• KNIVES OF THE AVENGER (1.85.1, b&w, 1:29)
• BARON BLOOD (1.85.1, 2:11)
• TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE (1.66.1, 3:05)
• HOUSE OF EXORCISM (1.85.1, 3:19)
• BLACK SUNDAY (1.66.1, b&w, 3:23)
• BLACK SABBATH (1.66.1, 3:24)
• GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1.85.1, 2:32)

-  Darren Collette