5 Dolls For An August Moon

The best thing about Mario Bava's formulaic body count thriller is the decor, from the riotous, ultra-modern house that serves as the primary set to the swinging '60s fashions. It's clearly a work for hire: Bava came onto the project mere days before the start of production, and though there are a couple of strikingly beautiful images — like a cascade of glass balls rattling down a staircase before coming to rest in the chilly marble bathroom where one character has apparently committed suicide — overall the film lacks the lush atmosphere of his seminal BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (1964). Three amoral couples gather at the island home of wealthy George Stark (Teod...