Danger: Diabolik!

  Welcome to the coolest spy movie ever made. The late great Italian director Mario Bava usually known for his Giallo and Gothic Horror films has taken his talents to the new realm of the comic book movie, before comic book movies we're ever really popular. His set designs and atmospheric visual style takes this low budget b movie to a respected work of art. Diabolik is the tale of an internation criminal Diabolik(John Phillip Law) and his partner in crime, the beautiful Eva Kent(Marissa Mell). Diabolik is your true anti hero, who is only out for himself. His adventure throughout the film takes him across the Italian countryside and his amazing safehouse. I won't spoil anything, for my futile attempt at describing what it looks like would only pale in comparison to seeing it yourself. Bava has taken fresh, new, ambitious ideas and executed with as little money as possible. His atmospheric, psychedelic visuals set the tone of this 60s spy film perfectly. And his set designs in scenes are second to none.

  The music is done by none other than Ennio Morricone, possibly the most famous film composer of all time. His psychedelic score fits perfectly with the visuals Bava provides while never overpowering the scene. Morricone's music is known to take an okay film to another level, but with Bava's superior directing combined the film skyrockets into a level all it's own, a unique film never quite seen before.

  Overall, Danger: Diabolik is not only a great movie, but an exercise in style. Every scene comes with visual flair, something to make it interesting. And there is not shortage of that here. From the colorful sets, creative designs, awesome costumes, great lighting, and cool closeups it is a film that should be studied by directors, set designers, cinematographers alike. It is a work of art made on a budget, unlike some directors which require millions and millions of dollars with all the time in the world. Bava creates this little gem in such a short amount of time it would make Kubrick's head spin. Sure it's campy sometimes but there are so many little visual tricks and ideas to discover in this film, and this is why Diabolik is not only a great comic book adaptation but one of the best undiscovered films ever.