The plot is deceptively simple. Michael Gough portrays murder novelist Edmond Bancroft who is obsessed with death and the act of killing in various methods especially. His devious acts of violence towards women is perhaps a hidden hatred for them. Perhaps researching murderers from the past, and his obsession with them, forged the way into his demented reasons to kill women. As explained to his hypnotized assistant Rick(Graham Curnow), women were the main culprits in how murderers were caught and executed. Edmond lives and breathes the novels of killing he writes and he will do whatever it takes to make those works continue. So he uses poor Rick as a means to help perpetuate his literary bloodlust by often forcing him to kill or by helping him get rid of bodies he had murdered. Certain characters threaten Edmond's work so he makes plans to do away with them when their not expecting such as an antique store saleswoman for whom he buys merchandise from(she plans to blackmail him after spotting her name on a pair of "spike-lensed" binoculars that stabbed a woman's eyeballs to the very nerves killing her)or a doctor who, through both mental and physical examination, sees what Edmond is turning into(..or has already become). But, the most major threat is Rick's secret lady-love, Angela(Shirley Anne Field).
Horrors of the Black Museum has loads of potential, but seems to be devastingly marred by an abrupt ending. I myself felt like this film could've really been something great if we could've understood more about Rick's plight. Why does his face twist into this hideous sight ravaged by an ugly green tint. Sure towards the end we see him receive an injection by his master Edmond Bancroft, but really delving deeper seems to be this film's major flaw. It wants to make the evil Bancroft pay for his crimes rather quickly instead of furthering his abilities to lead detectives on a wild goose chase. He makes too many mistakes at the end which question his credibility to have gotten away with his twisted scheme for so long.
I would suggest seeing it for several interesting death weaponry like the mini-guillotine or the aforementioned spiked-lensed binoculars, but Gough's delicious villainy is why I enjoyed it to a point. But, I also felt it needed a stronger ending than the blown-up finale which has Rick faced with the position of killing Angela when Edmond demands it. His descent through the "fun-fair" running around like a maniac is laughable(still his face and how he turns is a mystery to me), and the reasons behind Edmond even going to the "fun-fair" is even more a mystery. And, why would Edmond abruptly try to have Angela killed so soon..and SO PUBLIC! Why not kill Angela like all the others..in some sort of secluded execution. But, the film is colorful and has some fascinating moments..just not enough for a great movie.
Horrors of the Black Museum has loads of potential, but seems to be devastingly marred by an abrupt ending. I myself felt like this film could've really been something great if we could've understood more about Rick's plight. Why does his face twist into this hideous sight ravaged by an ugly green tint. Sure towards the end we see him receive an injection by his master Edmond Bancroft, but really delving deeper seems to be this film's major flaw. It wants to make the evil Bancroft pay for his crimes rather quickly instead of furthering his abilities to lead detectives on a wild goose chase. He makes too many mistakes at the end which question his credibility to have gotten away with his twisted scheme for so long.
I would suggest seeing it for several interesting death weaponry like the mini-guillotine or the aforementioned spiked-lensed binoculars, but Gough's delicious villainy is why I enjoyed it to a point. But, I also felt it needed a stronger ending than the blown-up finale which has Rick faced with the position of killing Angela when Edmond demands it. His descent through the "fun-fair" running around like a maniac is laughable(still his face and how he turns is a mystery to me), and the reasons behind Edmond even going to the "fun-fair" is even more a mystery. And, why would Edmond abruptly try to have Angela killed so soon..and SO PUBLIC! Why not kill Angela like all the others..in some sort of secluded execution. But, the film is colorful and has some fascinating moments..just not enough for a great movie.