That Will Teach Them to Be Bad(2025)

That Will Teach Them to Be Bad is a documentary essay examining Mario Bava's landmark 1971 film A Bay of Blood. Author Stephen Thrower dissects the proto-slasher's themes, visual language, and characters, tracing how Bava's inventive approach to violence and suspense influenced the horror genre that followed. The film explores the Italian director's bold narrative structure, where multiple plotlines converge around a contested waterfront property, and his pioneering use of graphic kills and subjective camera work. Thrower contextualizes A Bay of Blood within Bava's broader career and its impact on American slasher cinema, offering film scholars and horror fans a deeper understanding of this foundational work. The documentary combines archival material, film clips, and critical analysis to reveal why Bava's experiment remains essential viewing for anyone interested in horror's evolution.