Cool write up that made me realize - once again - that I forgot to send you a list of worthwhile Gialli :>)
I myself was not necessarily impressed by Black Sunday but I loved Black Sabbath. It might have to do with the fact that I watched the first on a small screen ( at home ) and the second at the big screen, about a decade ago.
P.S. Did you know that Mario Bava was ( almost ) more of a cinematographer than a director? He sure had an eye for the visuals.
My favorite Mario Bava pictures are ( from newest to oldest ) Shock, Bay of Blood, Hatchet for a Honeymoon and Planet of the Vampires.
P.P.S. Are you familiar with the work of his son, Mario Bava?
No, but I'm familiar with the work of his son, Lamberto Bava. :D
All kidding aside, Macabre is the kind of fucking insane, that-cannot-possibly-be-based-on-a-true-incident movies that was, of course, based on a true incident involving a woman, a murder, and her husband's severed head in a refrigerator.
Italians, man...like, WTF? :D