Lamberto Bava was born in Rome, Italy, as the first of a third generation of Italian filmmakers. His grandfather, Eugenio Bava, was a cameraman and optics effects artist during the early days of Italian silent cinema, while his father, Mario Bava, was a legendary cinematographer, special effects designer, and director.
Lamberto started his career as his father's personal assistant on the film "Planet of the Vampires" in 1965. He gradually gained experience and eventually became the assistant director for most of his father's films, including "Shock" in 1977, where Mario often feigned illness to allow Lamberto to direct a few scenes uncredited.
Lamberto and Mario co-directed the made-for-TV drama "I giochi del diavolo: La Venere d'Ille" in 1979, and both worked on the Dario Argento horror film "Inferno" in 1980, where Mario designed the color set pieces and visual special effects, and Lamberto was Argento's assistant director.
Lamberto made his solo directorial debut with "Macabre" in 1980, a tense drama-horror film loosely based on a 1977 incident in New Orleans. The film was released in Italy in February 1980 to mixed reviews but won recognition from his father Mario.
After "Macabre", Lamberto went back to assistant directing, working with Dario Argento again on "Tenebrae" in 1982. He then directed the violent mystery thriller "A Blade in the Dark" in 1983, the action-flick "Blastfighter" in 1984, and the thriller "Devil Fish" in 1984, under the pseudonym John Old Jr.
Lamberto's commercial success peaked with "Demons" in 1985, produced by Dario Argento and co-written by Dardano Sacchetti. The film's international success allowed him to co-write, produce, and direct the sequel "Demons 2" in 1986.
Lamberto returned to giallo thrillers with "Delirium" in 1987 and later directed a remake of his father's "Black Sunday" in 1990, titled "La maschera del demonio".
Today, Lamberto Bava continues to divide his time between TV work and a few movies, acknowledging his inspiration from his late father Mario.
