Starring Joan Fontaine, Kay Walsh, Alec McCowen, Ann Bell, Ingrid Brett
Directed by Cyril Frankel
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
After being terrorized by witch doctors in Africa, a missionary teacher thinks she's found a more relaxing career teaching in a British village, until she learns there are witches in the village.
An attempt by Hammer Films to add to their horror catalog with a "witch" film, I found this to be a fine suspense-filled effort that unfortunately doesn't quite pay off in its final act. Although the film hints the witches' powers are genuine we never see true evidence of this onscreen, nor are we presented an explanation as to what motivates the witches to be witches, and the climactic sacrificial ritual's choreography comes off seeming a bit silly. Nevertheless, the build up before that, well-scripted by Nigel Kneale, makes this a worthwhile film, and star Joan Fontaine is well cast in the leading role.
Showing posts with label Ann Bell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ann Bell. Show all posts
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors (1965)
Starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Roy Castle, Max Adrian, Ann Bell
Directed by Freddie Francis
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Five men sharing a train compartment have their fortunes told by the mysterious Dr. Schreck, who predicts each of them will have a terrifying encounter with the supernatural.
This was one of the earliest horror anthology films from Amicus, a British studio that soon made many more, most of which followed the same pattern of strangers coming together to meet a mysterious figure, who then cast each of them in tales of horror. With very limited special effects and rather murky photography, this film's strongest asset is its cast, which includes horror stars Cushing and Lee, as well as some good supporting players such as Bernard Lee, Michael Gough and a young Donald Sutherland. The title is a bit of a misnomer, since there is no actual "house of horrors," but a bit of dialogue explains the term is meant to describe the deck of tarot cards Schreck uses to tell the other passengers' future.
Directed by Freddie Francis
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Five men sharing a train compartment have their fortunes told by the mysterious Dr. Schreck, who predicts each of them will have a terrifying encounter with the supernatural.
This was one of the earliest horror anthology films from Amicus, a British studio that soon made many more, most of which followed the same pattern of strangers coming together to meet a mysterious figure, who then cast each of them in tales of horror. With very limited special effects and rather murky photography, this film's strongest asset is its cast, which includes horror stars Cushing and Lee, as well as some good supporting players such as Bernard Lee, Michael Gough and a young Donald Sutherland. The title is a bit of a misnomer, since there is no actual "house of horrors," but a bit of dialogue explains the term is meant to describe the deck of tarot cards Schreck uses to tell the other passengers' future.
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