The first horror film of Italy?s cinematic sound era, I VAMPIRI is a glorious, Gothic statement that would open the doors for so much to come. Directed?for the most part?by Riccardo Freda (A DOPPIA FACCIA, L?ORRIBLE SEGRETO DEL DR. HITCHCOCK) it tells the story of a series of murders in Paris, young women drained of their blood.On release, The Monthly Film Bulletin claimed the film "drags in everything from drug addiction to perpetual youth, crypts to skeletons? a satisfying shopping list for sure. Freda also brought in one other vital ingredient: a man who would become an unassailable legend of cinema?horror or otherwise?Mario Bava. Bava handled the gorgeous cinematography and the special effects. He also directed the last stretch of the shoot in Freda?s absence.There is no better guide to this terrifying mix than Roberto Curti, one of our greatest critics and writers, biographer of Freda and author of countless books looking at the history of Italian cinema.