1.  It doesn’t get much cuter than this kawaii egg nog dog toy! (PetCo, $6.99)

2.  This dog stocking has a place for your pooch’s picture and it’s the perfect way to present your dog’s Christmas treats! (PetSmart, $9.99)

3.  A peanut butter-flavored rawhide candy cane will keep your furry friend busy and out of the way while your family opens their haul on Christmas morning!  (PetSmart, $12.99)

4.  Pet owners are very familiar with what happens when their pets eat too quickly.  The Slo-Bowl helps avoid these issues by making hungry dogs work for their food.  The bowl can hold up to two cups of food and is top rack dishwasher safe! (ThinkGeek, $24.99)

5.  Keep your puppy happy on cold nights with the electric pet pad from Sunbeam!  It warms to the veterinary-recommended temperature of 102.5° and is perfect for smaller dogs who are more severely affected by cold weather.  (PetSmart, $49.99)

1.  These catnip stuffed mice are dressed like elves and will give your cat hours of holiday fun. (Petco, $4.99)

2.  This ingenious idea combines two of your cats favorite items – cantip and bags! (ThinkGeek, $5.99 for 4 bags)!

3.  More catnip toys – this time in the form of Santa Claus and a gift.  (PetSmart, $5.99)

4.  Fill this adorable stocking with all kinds of goodies for your feline friend. (PetSmart, $14.99)

5.  Your kitty can relax and scratch in style with this deluxe cat tree! (Petco, $539.99)

Chances are, you’ll probably be attending at least one holiday party in the coming weeks.  It’s always good manners to bring your host or hostess a gift, and this list is a good start for ideas.

1.  Anthropologie’s famous Initial Mugs get a limited edition gilded look.  Fill them with her favorite candy and wrap with festive cellophane! (Anthropologie, $10.00)

2.  These informative kitchen towels show the best pairings of wine and food, making them attractive cheat sheets for frequent entertainers.  (Uncommon Goods, $28.00)

3.  Nothing says Christmas like the Peanuts gang, and this snowglobe commemorates their famous rendition of the traditional carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”! (Hallmark, $29.95)

4.  Bring cookies on a fabulous snowflake platter.  This gift doubles as a party treat and a thank you to your wonderful hostess. (Crate & Barrel, $49.95)

5.  Same idea, different format!  Present your hostess with this retro Santa cookie jar – full of goodies! (Pottery Barn, $59.50)

One of my favorite family traditions is receiving a new ornament each year.  There’s a memory attached to each one and I love unpacking and hanging them on the tree – it’s like wave of nostalgia.  Part of my gift giving incorporates buying that perfect ornament for each person.  Here’s a list of ornaments that will delight any recipient!

1.  These festive mini-mittens will give your tree a traditional coziness. (Pottery Barn, $6.50)

2.  It’s a tradition to visit St. Nick’s in Littleton, and this adorable snowman snowglobe will definitely be on my tree this year.  Even if you’re not local, you can get it for yours by buying online! (St. Nicks, $13.95)

3.  Hallmark is my favorite place to buy ornaments because they have something for everyone.  They’re better known for their cute tree trimmings, but this gorgeous winterscape is a perfect choice for an elegant hostess gift.  (Hallmark, $14.95)

4.  Jim Shore’s carved wooden ornaments reflect the woodsy, old-fashioned decor that’s becoming increasingly popular.  This intricate snowflake reveals a hidden surprise! (Jim Shore, $15.00)

5.  Celebrate your loved ones by decorating these simple silhouette ornaments.  Single or overlapping faces are a great way to show off your children, or surprise your sweetheart with the facing couple ornament.  (Le Papier Studio, $34 plus $10 per custom silhouette)

Black Sabbath (1963)

Directed by Mario Bava

Starring:
Boris Karloff
Michèle Mercier
Mark Damon
Jacqueline Pierreux

Also known as I Tre Volti Della Paura, Black Sabbath is a horror anthology film directed by the legendary Italian director Mario Bava.  Bava is often credited with popularizing the “giallo” (Italian murder mystery) and slasher film genres.

Black Sabbath includes three very different horror stories linked by introductions by Boris Karloff.  There are two versions of the film – an Italian cut and an American cut.  The American version has more comedic introductions, a different story order, and several scenes cut from “The Telephone” segment.

“The Telephone”

Rosy, a high-priced escort, receives a series of threatening phone calls that terrify her.  Fearing that it is the man she helped put in prison, she calls her girlfriend, Mary, to stay with her.  Mary arrives, but Rosy still fears that she may not last the night.

In the American version of this segment, the “controversial” lesbian subplot is removed and the story has a supernatural slant.  The Italian version is much closer to films like Dial M for Murder or Midnight Lace – a more straight forward murder mystery with a mild Hitchcockian twist.  The segment itself is a very stylish representation of the early 60s, with beautiful costumes and rich, textured set dressing.

Elaborate beehive hair and a glamorous black dress.

Rosy’s diaphanous blue nightgown

Mary’s gorgeous green coat with fur collar

“The Wurdalak”

Based on traditional Russian vampire lore and a novella, The Family of the Vourdalak, by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, “The Wurdalak” is the tale of a traveling nobleman who is taken in by a family besieged by a wurdalak, a vampire that feeds on the blood of those it loves.  The siblings and their families eagerly await the return of their father, Gorcha, who has been away for five days on a quest to kill the monster.  Gorcha returns, but does not seem his usual self.  The family comes to suspect that their patriarch is a wurdalak and must determine if they are willing to kill him to save themselves.

This segment is a moody, beautifully shot traditional mini monster movie.  The Italian version is a bit gorier, but “The Wurdalak” is very similar in style to Bava’s Black Sunday.  I love the combination of the 60s hairstyles and makeup and the period costumes and settings.  Logically, it shouldn’t work, but it totally does for me!

Got to love the mix of awesome 60s winged eyeliner and 1800s period costumes!

“The Drop of Water”

Nurse Helen Chester is called to the home of a wealthy patient after she dies.  The woman was a famous medium and lives in a large house.  Her housekeeper, eager to go home, leaves Nurse Chester in the room with the dead woman, affording her ample time to steal a large sapphire ring off of the corpse’s finger.  When Nurse Chester returns home, she is haunted by her misdeed and has a guilt-ridden breakdown.

“The Drop of Water” is a classic style ghost story with a nice “Twilight Zone”-esque twist ending.  It is inspired by the traditional “retrieval” stories of ghosts seeking items stolen from them, usually jewelry, treasure, or, sometimes, body parts.  The corpse makeup was truly terrifying and the entire segment had gorgeous lighting.

Beautifully framed shot of Nurse Chester preparing The Countess’s corpse.

The disturbingly effective ghost makeup

Like many Italian films of the era, Black Sabbath is a feast for the eyes – gorgeous colors, amazing lighting, and detailed sets.  Fans of “The Twilight Zone” and suspenseful horror tales (á la Edgar Allan Poe) will enjoy this classic anthology film.  I would suggest finding the Italian version, as it is a bit better, but the American version is also an excellent viewing experience.

Fright Rating: 2 gasps out of 5

There are a few very mildly gory moments, but most of the scares stem from suspense.  The film is unrated, but would be appropriate for anyone over the age of 13.