Operazione paura, or "Kill Baby Kill" as it is better known, is an incredibly spooky and atmospheric ghost story set in a small turn of the century village. Paul, a young doctor, arrives in town to investigate the bizarre death of a young woman. Aided by a pretty young assistant named Monica, they soon discover the disturbing legend of a ghost girl named Melissa, who is seeking revenge for her own sad death. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
There are some really great performances to be found here. Baroness Graps is an early incarnation of Pamela Voorhees, the grieving insane mother who also manages to elicit sympathy. The young sorceress Ruth is an especially complex character with a secret agenda. The freaky looking Valerio Valeri is a great ghost girl with her pale blond hair and wide eyes, pressing her spooky face up against dark windows. The plot might not be anything new, but Bava handles it masterfully. A sequence involving Paul following Moncia's screams through the same room over and over again is especially trippy and a spiral staircase shot is truly disconcerting. Cobwebs, beautiful girls and genuinely creepy sets make this a must for ghost enthusiasts and Bava fans alike.
There are some really great performances to be found here. Baroness Graps is an early incarnation of Pamela Voorhees, the grieving insane mother who also manages to elicit sympathy. The young sorceress Ruth is an especially complex character with a secret agenda. The freaky looking Valerio Valeri is a great ghost girl with her pale blond hair and wide eyes, pressing her spooky face up against dark windows. The plot might not be anything new, but Bava handles it masterfully. A sequence involving Paul following Moncia's screams through the same room over and over again is especially trippy and a spiral staircase shot is truly disconcerting. Cobwebs, beautiful girls and genuinely creepy sets make this a must for ghost enthusiasts and Bava fans alike.