"The Specter of Professor Hichcock", an Italian gem of gothic horror

After World War II, Italian cinema saw two opposing trends emerge. One focused on neorealism, depicting the harsh realities of a devastated world, led by directors like Vittorio De Sica and Roberto Rossellini. The other trend embraced imagination and fantasy, with filmmakers like Riccardo Freda creating historical adaptations and melodramas. Freda's work included a notable adaptation of Les Misérables and the first Italian horror film, Les Vampires, which was released too early to succeed.