Black Sunday begins with an opening sequence that would get the film banned in the UK for years, though it is not as violent as Bava’s films would become.

Michael Haneke indicted all those viewers who look toward violence and torture for their mass entertainment.

When Lionel’s (Timothy Balme) love for a local girl is no longer held down by his controlling mother (Elizabeth Moody), decaying zombie-like creatures emerge to act as horrifying expression of momma’s villainous control.

Totem is heartfelt and life-affirming, without succumbing to the generic temptation of being too sentimental.