
About
Lamberto Bava
Overview
Lamberto Bava was born in Rome, Italy, and was the first of a third generation of Italian filmmakers. His grandfather, Eugenio Bava (1886-1966), was a cameraman and optics effects artist during the early days of Italian silent cinema. His father, Mario Bava (1914-1980), was a legendary cinematographer, special effects designer and director. Lamberto entered the cinema as his father's personal assistant, starting with "Planet of the Vampires" (1965). Bit by bit he gained experience from his father, who made him the assistant director for most of the rest of his films. He even co-wrote the screenplay for "Shock" (1977), Mario's last theatrical film where, in poor health during the shoot, Mario often feigned illness so Lamberto could direct a few scenes, uncredited, to gain further experience.
Both Lamberto and Mario directed the made-for-TV drama "I giochi del diavolo: La Venere d'Ille" (1979). Both worked on the Dario Argento horror flick "Inferno" (1980), for which Mario designed some of the color set pieces, including the underwater ballroom, and created all the visual special effects, while Lamberto worked as Argento's assistant director. Late in 1979 Lamberto made his solo directorial debut with "Macabre" (1980), a tense drama-horror flick loosely based on a 1977 incident in New Orleans about a woman who keeps her lover's severed head in her freezer. According to Lamberto, the project started by chance when producer Pupi Avati approached him to direct as well as write the screenplay, which took just six weeks to write and direct. "Macabre" was released in Italy in February 1980 to mixed reviews, but won him recognition by his father Mario. Just two months later Mario Bava died, and an era in Italian film making came to a close.
"Macabre" was not a box-office hit and, as a result, Lamberto went back to assistant directing. He worked with Dario Argento again in 1982 with "Tenebrae" (1982). In 1983 Lamberto was offered the opportunity to direct another film, titled "A Blade in the Dark" (1983), which was a violent mystery thriller shot in only three weeks on a tight budget and filmed almost entirely in a producer friend's house. Next he directed the action-flick "Blastfighter" (1984), which was filmed in the state of Georgia, and immediately afterwards directed the "Jaws" (1975)-like thriller "Devil Fish" (1984), which was shot in Florida. On both films Lamberto was purely a director for hire and had nothing to do with the script or production end. He used the pseudonym of 'John Old Jr.' for this latter film, which was a tribute to his father Mario, who often used the pseudonym 'John M. Old'. He enjoyed his best commercial success to date with "Demons" (1985), produced by Dario Argento, co-written by Dardano Sacchetti and filmed in West Berlin. This film's international success allowed him to co-write, produce and direct a sequel, "Demons 2" (1986). Lamberto returned to giallo thrillers with "Delirium" (1987).
In the late 1980s the Italian cinema turned moribund. Lamberto, like most of his colleagues, turned to making films for Italian television. He also directed a remake of his father's "Black Sunday" (1960), which was titled "La maschera del demonio" (1990).
Nowadays Lamberto Bava continues to divide his time between TV work and a few movies, acknowledging his inspiration from his late father, Mario.
Known for
Acting |
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2024 | Titanus 1904 | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
2024 | Dario Argento: Panico | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2023 | Dream Time | Actor | Sé stesso | N/A N/A |
2021 | Inferno Rosso: Joe D'Amato on the Road of Excess | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2019 | Erinnerungen an Lucio Fulci | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
2019 | All the Colors of Giallo | Actor | Self - Director / son of Mario Bava | 59 Average |
2018 | Bava Puzzle | Actor | Himself | N/A N/A |
2017 | Il mistero della cattedrale | Actor | self | 59 Average |
2016 | Blood on Méliès' Moon | Actor | Lamberto Bava | 58 Average |
2013 | I Tarantiniani | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
2012 | Of Fire And Darkness | Actor | himself | N/A N/A |
2008 | Paura: Lucio Fulci Remembered - Volume 1 | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2007 | Hanging Shadows | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
2004 | The Exorcism of Lisa | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2004 | The Three Faces of Terror | Actor | Himself | 58 Average |
2004 | Mario Bava: Operazione paura | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2003 | Italian Kings Of B | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
2000 | Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre | Actor | Self | 58 Average |
1988 | The Ogre | Actor | Man in bar (uncredited) | 58 Average |
1988 | Graveyard Disturbance | Actor | Shop Keeper | 58 Average |
1986 | Demons 2 | Actor | Sally's Father | 59 Average |
1986 | You'll Die at Midnight | Actor | Police Photographer (uncredited) | 58 Average |
1985 | Demons | Actor | 1st Man Exiting Subway (uncredited) | 62 Fair |
1982 | Tenebre | Actor | Elevator Repairman #1 (uncredited) | 64 Fair |
1977 | Shock | Actor | Mover / Airplane Passenger | 59 Average |
Masters of Mayhem | Actor | Self | N/A N/A |
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Directing |
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2018 | Twins | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
2012 | Kammerspiel | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
2012 | Tailor Made Murder | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
2012 | Visions of Murder | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
2007 | Ghost Son | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
2005 | The Torturer | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
2001 | L'Impero | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1999 | Pirates: Blood Brothers | Directing | Director | 69 Fair |
1997 | The Princess and the Pauper | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1997 | La principessa e il povero | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1996 | The Cave of the Golden Rose 5 | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1996 | Alisea and the Dream Prince | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1996 | Rabid Dogs | Directing | Assistant Director | 64 Fair |
1996 | Alisea and the Dream Prince | Directing | Director | 69 Fair |
1995 | Desideria e l'anello del drago | Directing | Director | 68 Fair |
1994 | The Cave of the Golden Rose 4 | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1994 | The Dragon Ring | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1993 | The Cave of the Golden Rose 3 | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1992 | The Cave of the Golden Rose 2 | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1992 | Body Puzzle | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1991 | The Cave of the Golden Rose | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1991 | The Cave of the Golden Rose | Directing | Director | 69 Fair |
1990 | The Mask of Satan | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1990 | Eyewitness | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1989 | The Prince of Terror | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1989 | The Man Who Didn't Want to Die | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1989 | School of Fear | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1988 | Dinner with a Vampire | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1988 | Until Death | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1988 | The Ogre | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1988 | Graveyard Disturbance | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1987 | Delirium: Photo of Gioia | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1986 | Demons 2 | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1986 | You'll Die at Midnight | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1985 | Demons | Directing | Director | 62 Fair |
1984 | Devil Fish | Directing | Director | 55 Average |
1984 | Blastfighter | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1983 | A Blade in the Dark | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1982 | Tenebre | Directing | First Assistant Director | 64 Fair |
1981 | The Venus of Ille | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
1981 | The Venus of Ille | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1980 | Macabre | Directing | Director | 58 Average |
1980 | Inferno | Directing | Assistant Director | 62 Fair |
1980 | Cannibal Holocaust | Directing | Assistant Director | 62 Fair |
1979 | The Venus of Ille | Directing | Director | 59 Average |
1978 | Last Feelings | Directing | First Assistant Director | 58 Average |
1975 | The House of Exorcism | Directing | Assistant Director | 58 Average |
1973 | Lisa and the Devil | Directing | Assistant Director | 59 Average |
1971 | A Bay of Blood | Directing | Assistant Director | 61 Fair |
1970 | Roy Colt and Winchester Jack | Directing | First Assistant Director | 58 Average |
1970 | Hatchet for the Honeymoon | Directing | Assistant Director | 59 Average |
1970 | Hatchet for the Honeymoon | Directing | Second Unit Director | 59 Average |
1968 | Danger: Diabolik | Directing | Assistant Director | 60 Fair |
1966 | Kill, Baby... Kill! | Directing | Assistant Director | 62 Fair |
1965 | Planet of the Vampires | Directing | Second Assistant Director | 60 Fair |
Writing |
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2007 | Ghost Son | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
2007 | Ghost Son | Writing | Story | 58 Average |
2005 | The Torturer | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
1992 | Body Puzzle | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
1990 | The Mask of Satan | Writing | Story | 58 Average |
1988 | Dinner with a Vampire | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
1988 | Until Death | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
1988 | The Ogre | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
1988 | Graveyard Disturbance | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
1986 | Demons 2 | Writing | Writer | 59 Average |
1986 | You'll Die at Midnight | Writing | Screenplay | 58 Average |
1985 | Demons | Writing | Screenplay | 62 Fair |
1981 | The Venus of Ille | Writing | Writer | N/A N/A |
1981 | The Venus of Ille | Writing | Writer | 59 Average |
1980 | Macabre | Writing | Writer | 58 Average |
1979 | The Venus of Ille | Writing | Screenplay | 59 Average |
1977 | Shock | Writing | Screenplay | 59 Average |
1975 | Waves of Lust | Writing | Screenstory | 58 Average |
Production |
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1997 | The Princess and the Pauper | Production | Producer | 59 Average |
1996 | Rabid Dogs | Production | Producer | 64 Fair |
1994 | The Dragon Ring | Production | Producer | 59 Average |
1990 | The Mask of Satan | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
1989 | The Prince of Terror | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
1989 | The Man Who Didn't Want to Die | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
1986 | You'll Die at Midnight | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
1983 | A Blade in the Dark | Production | Producer | 58 Average |
Untitled Geretta Geretta Horror | Production | Producer | N/A N/A |
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Crew |
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2018 | Dogman's Rabies: Underdog | Crew | Thanks | 58 Average |
1984 | Devil Fish | Crew | Additional Writing | 55 Average |
Editing |
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1986 | You'll Die at Midnight | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |
1983 | A Blade in the Dark | Editing | Editor | 58 Average |