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Black Sabbath (1964) movie poster

Timeline

Black Sabbath (1964) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1964 · 92 min · Italian
JustWatch #3,583 12
Directed by
Mario Bava
Starring
Boris Karloff, Glauco Onorato, Jacqueline Pierreux, Lidia Alfonsi, Mark Damon, Massimo Righi

This eerie horror anthology presents three unsettling tales of terror, narrated by Boris Karloff. The first story explores the dark secrets of a haunted nurse, while the second follows a vulnerable call girl pursued by an unseen presence. Finally, a timeless curse is unleashed as a vampire relentlessly hunts his prey, creating a chilling and unforgettable experience.

Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Black Sabbath
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Black Sabbath (1964)

Where can you watch Black Sabbath? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Artiflix and fuboTV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Black Sabbath Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Black Sabbath (1964) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Introduction by Boris Karloff

    The film opens with an eerie introduction by Boris Karloff, setting the tone for the three chilling tales that follow. His iconic presence hints at the supernatural horrors that will unfold throughout the stories.

  2. Rosy's Haunting Phone Calls

    In a spacious apartment in Paris, Rosy, a high-priced call-girl, begins receiving unsettling phone calls. These calls are from her ex-pimp Frank, who has just escaped from prison, creating an atmosphere of dread as she recalls how her testimony imprisoned him.

    Where
    Paris

  3. Mary's Arrival

    Seeking comfort from her estranged lover Mary, Rosy reaches out for help to combat her anxiety. Mary agrees to come over, but unbeknownst to Rosy, she has a sinister agenda of her own, impersonating Frank to manipulate the situation.

  4. Mary's Confession

    Upon arriving at Rosy's apartment, Mary attempts to calm her down with a tranquillizer. However, her written confession revealing that she is the one making the ominous calls takes center stage, highlighting her twisted intentions.

  5. Frank's Intrusion

    As the night progresses, the real threat materializes when Frank bursts into the apartment. His aggressive arrival sets off a brutal confrontation that pits Rosy against the man who once held power over her, escalating the tension to a breaking point.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Rosy’s apartment

  6. Desperate Battle

    In a horrific climax, Frank strangles Mary just as Rosy awakens to the commotion. Armed with a butcher knife, Rosy fights back in a desperate bid for survival, plunging the knife into Frank and marking the turning point in her struggle.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Rosy’s apartment

  7. Rosy's Hysteria

    After the violent confrontation, Rosy stands amidst the lifeless bodies of her former lovers. The horrific scene drives her into a state of hysteria, showcasing the psychological torment she faces as she grapples with her traumatic experiences.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Rosy’s apartment

  8. Vladimir's Discovery

    Transitioning to 19th Century Russia, young nobleman Vladimir D'Urfe stumbles upon a beheaded corpse. He takes a knife embedded in the heart as a trophy, unaware of the dark events that are about to unfold.

    Where
    19th Century Russia

  9. Giorgio's Cottage

    Seeking refuge, Vladimir arrives at Giorgio’s rustic cottage, where he meets the worried family. They reveal their fears about Gorcha, the missing patriarch, who is believed to have turned into a wurdalak, an undead creature that preys on loved ones.

    Where
    Giorgio’s cottage

  10. Gorcha Returns

    At the stroke of midnight, Gorcha returns home, transforming the atmosphere into one of dread. The family’s love for him is tested against the monstrous hunger of a wurdalak, leading to difficult choices for survival.

    When
    Midnight
    Where
    Giorgio’s cottage

  11. Tragic Sacrifices

    As the night unfolds, Gorcha's monstrous nature surfaces, resulting in a violent attack on the family. The dynamics between love and survival lead to tragic outcomes as they confront their worst fears in a fight for life.

    Where
    Giorgio’s cottage

  12. Relationship in Turmoil

    Sdenka, drawn to Gorcha’s influence, becomes a source of turmoil for her relationship with Vladimir. Her transformation escalates the horror within the cottage, bringing tragic consequences that irrevocably alter their lives.

    Where
    Giorgio’s cottage

  13. Helen's Summons

    In Victorian London, Nurse Helen Chester is called to prepare a medium’s body for burial. Tempted by greed, she steals a diamond ring from the corpse, initiating her downward spiral into madness.

    Where
    Victorian London

  14. The Haunting Begins

    After returning home, Helen is tormented by a relentless fly and the sound of dripping water. These manifestations of guilt over her theft push her further into despair and haunt her psyche.

    Where
    Helen’s residence

  15. A Terrifying Climax

    In the grip of madness, Helen encounters the ghost of the medium, leading her to a dreadful climax where she chokes herself in fear. Her corpse is discovered the next day, leaving behind questions about her demise amidst haunting circumstances.

    Where
    Helen’s residence

Last updated: November 04, 2024 at 00:00

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Timeline questions answered

Black Sabbath Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Black Sabbath (1964): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Mary impersonate Frank and make the phone calls to Rosy?

Mary admits in a written confession that she made the threatening phone calls to reinsert herself into Rosy's life. Wanting to regain control and proximity to Rosy, she impersonated Frank as a twisted psychological game to manipulate the situation and be near her again.

  • mary
  • frank
  • phone calls
  • manipulation
  • ros y
Q2

What is a wurdalak in the movie?

A wurdalak is a type of undead creature that feeds on its loved ones. In the film, Gorcha is believed to have become a wurdalak while missing, and the family fears that when he returns, his monstrous hunger will compel him to attack those closest to him.

  • wurdalak
  • undead
  • gorcha
  • vampire
  • russia
Q3

Why does Rosy keep a butcher knife under her pillow?

Rosy keeps a butcher knife hidden under her pillow because she fears retaliation from Frank, her ex-pimp who was imprisoned after her testimony. The knife is her means of self-defense against the man who once controlled her life.

  • rosy
  • knife
  • self-defense
  • frank
  • pillow
Q4

Why does Nurse Helen steal the ring from the dead medium?

Helen steals the ornate diamond ring from the deceased medium out of greed. The valuable ring catches her eye during the preparation of the body, and she succumbs to temptation, stealing it despite knowing it belongs to the dead.

  • helen
  • ring
  • theft
  • medium
  • greed
Q5

How does Helen die at the end of The Drop of Water?

Helen dies by choking herself in fear. Overwhelmed by guilt over the theft and haunted by the ghost of the medium, she enters a state of madness where she appears to choke herself, seemingly compelled by the spectral presence.

  • helen
  • death
  • ghost
  • choke
  • medium
Q6

Why does Gorcha return at midnight in The Wurdalak?

Gorcha returns at midnight because that is when the curse of the wurdalak compels him to come home. The family has been waiting for him, fearing this exact moment when his undead nature would override his human love for them.

  • gorcha
  • midnight
  • return
  • wurdalak
  • family
Q7

What happens to Sdenka in The Wurdalak segment?

Sdenka succumbs to Gorcha's influence and becomes infected by the wurdalak curse. Her transformation creates turmoil in her relationship with Vladimir, leading to tragic consequences as the cycle of horror unfolds within the family.

  • sdenka
  • gorcha
  • transformation
  • infection
  • vladimir
Q8

Why does Vladimir take the knife from the beheaded corpse?

Vladimir takes the knife embedded in the beheaded corpse as a memento, not understanding its significance. This object ties him to the supernatural events that follow, as the knife belongs to the cursed Gorcha and becomes part of the wurdalak legend.

  • vladimir
  • knife
  • corpse
  • memento
  • discovery
Q9

What is the significance of the fly and dripping water in The Drop of Water?

The relentless fly and constant sound of dripping water are manifestations of Helen's guilt over stealing the ring. These elements torment her psychologically, representing her conscience and the supernatural consequence of her greed.

  • fly
  • water
  • guilt
  • haunting
  • psychological
Q10

Why does Rosy kill Frank in The Telephone?

Rosy kills Frank in self-defense when he attacks her. After Frank strangles Mary and attempts to overpower Rosy, she grabs the butcher knife she had hidden under her pillow and stabs him to survive the assault.

  • rosy
  • frank
  • kill
  • self-defense
  • knife
Q11

Why can't the family kill Gorcha when he returns?

The family cannot bring themselves to kill Gorcha because their love for him overrides their fear. Despite knowing he has become a monster, their familial bonds prevent them from making the necessary sacrifice, leading to tragic consequences.

  • gorcha
  • family
  • love
  • sacrifice
  • inability
Q12

What prompts Mary to confess about the phone calls?

Mary confesses in writing after she has given Rosy a tranquillizer and believes her to be asleep. Her written confession reveals her twisted motive: she orchestrated the scare to manipulate Rosy and force her way back into her life.

  • mary
  • confession
  • letter
  • manipulation
  • tranquilizer

Movie threads

More Movies Like Black Sabbath, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Black Sabbath tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Dark horror anthologies like Black Sabbath

Collections of short, unnerving tales that build towards bleak conclusions. If the chilling, multi-story format of Black Sabbath appealed to you, this collection features similar movies. These films present a series of unsettling tales, often narrated or framed together, that deliver a cumulative sense of supernatural terror and psychological doom, perfect for fans of classic and modern horror anthologies.

  • anthology
  • chilling
  • eerie
  • ominous
  • haunting
  • desperate
  • Tone: dark, bleak, ominous
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Movies in this thread typically feature a framing device that introduces several distinct narratives. Each story operates with its own set of characters and conflicts but shares a common tone of darkness and inevitability. The narrative structure allows for efficient tension-building within each segment, leading to tragic or horrifying payoffs that contribute to the film's overall bleakness.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their foundational anthology structure and their commitment to a uniformly dark, unsettling vibe. They share a pacing that is steady due to the segmented nature, a high intensity of fear, and a thematic focus on the macabre, making the viewing experience feel like a curated tour through various chambers of horror.

Tales from the Crypt movie poster

Tales from the Crypt

1972
Tales of Terror movie poster

Tales of Terror

1962
Black Sabbath movie poster

Black Sabbath

1964
Ghost Stories movie poster

Ghost Stories

2019
The Mortuary Collection movie poster

The Mortuary Collection

2020
Don't Be Afraid of the Dark movie poster

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

1973
Tales from the Dark 1 movie poster

Tales from the Dark 1

2013
Screams of a Winter Night movie poster

Screams of a Winter Night

1979

Gothic psychological horror movies like Black Sabbath

Stories where supernatural evil preys upon human guilt and frailty. For viewers who loved the gothic terror and psychological depth of Black Sabbath, this list curates similar stories. These movies explore themes of guilt, consequence, and the uncanny, often set against a backdrop of classic horror elements where supernatural forces expose the darkest corners of the human psyche.

  • gothic
  • psychological
  • haunting
  • eerie
  • ominous
  • melancholic
  • Tone: dark, eerie, melancholic
  • Pacing: steady, deliberate
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves vulnerable characters confronting a malevolent force—be it a ghost, a vampire, or a curse—that is intimately tied to their psychological state or personal history. The conflict is not just about survival but also about grappling with shame, betrayal, or a monstrous legacy, often leading to a fate that feels both horrifying and inevitable.

Why they belong together: They are united by a fusion of gothic horror aesthetics and deep psychological themes. The tone is consistently dark and eerie, the emotional weight is heavy, and the intensity is high, driven by a focus on the internal torment of the characters as much as the external threat they face.

The Black Torment movie poster

The Black Torment

1964
Gothic movie poster

Gothic

1986
Tormented movie poster

Tormented

1960
The Terror movie poster

The Terror

1963
Tales of Terror movie poster

Tales of Terror

1962
Tales from the Dark 2 movie poster

Tales from the Dark 2

2013
Tales from the Dark 1 movie poster

Tales from the Dark 1

2013
Ghostwood movie poster

Ghostwood

2006

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Movies Like Black Sabbath

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1988
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Spirits of the Dead

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Black Sunday

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Every angle

Black Sabbath (1964) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Black Sabbath in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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