Katarsis
# Katarsis

Katarsis (Italian: Sfida al diavolo), is a 1963 Italian horror film directed and written by Giuseppe Vegezzi. It is his only film. A group of people enter an old castle where they come across an old man (Christopher Lee) who turns out to be the Devil.

## Cast

Credits adapted from the book Italian Gothic Horror, 1957-1969.

* Christopher Lee as Lord of the Castle
* Giorgio Ardisson (credited as George Ardisson) as Gugo
* Vittori Centroni (credited as Lilly Parker) as Maga
* Anita Cacciolata (credited as Anita Deyer) as Jenny
* Alice Paneque (credited as Bella Cortez) as Frie
* Mario Polletin (credited as Mario Zacarti) as Gian
* Adriana Ambesi as Castle lady
* Pietro Vidali (credited as Piero Vada) as Peo

## Production

Katarsis was shot at Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano and Montelibretti and Olympia Studios in Romebetween 14 May and 7 June 1963. It had a low budget of 46 million Italian lira. Christopher Lee was one of the few name actors in it; he was on-set for one week. In Lee's autobiography, he states that he never saw the film or its dailies and that it was later split into two films. This is incorrect; however, the film was released in two versions, the later one with more footage.

## Release

Katarsis was released in Italy on September 9, 1963 where it was distributed by Mangusta. Shortly after it received its distribution visa, its production company I Della Films filed for bankruptcy. Katarsis was then purchased by Eco Films and re-released in a re-edited version, Sfida al diavolo, in 1965. This latter version runs 78 minutes and includes new scenes involving a dancer.

## Reception

Roberto Curti, author of Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1957-1969 described the director's work ranging between "naive and terrible".

