This period horror movie starts off on a great note, with a "Charleston" like dance going on (emulating the opening of the movie version of the musical "Mame") when Veronica Carlson walks in on a hanging body, all part of a joke. These bon vivant young society types then head off on a race, with the passengers in the two cars afraid of imminent death, and one of the cars slowing down, losing the other. While her date sits in the car waiting for her to return (being pushed off a cliff to his death by the deranged John Hurt), Carlson heads into a mysterious looking mansion and after a violent encounter with Hurt meets the dashing Peter Cushing who allows her to spend the night. But this house has a secret, as Carlson will find out in the most gruesome of ways, as well as the other couple who happen upon the mansion in their attempts to find the friends they lost.
Only fairly gruesome in a few of the more violent sequences, this independent film has the style of the Hammer horror films of the 1960's and early 70's but lacks the substance. Characterizations are not all that interesting, sans Cushing, Hurt and Gwen Watford as the spell casting housekeeper whose dark appearance and tight bun suggest her character was offered to actress Barbara Steele to play. The period look appears authentic, but at times, the mood doesn't seem to reveal whether this is supposed to be a horror movie with comic elements or a comedy with elements of horror added in. It only becomes apparent after the titled "ghoul" (who looks like Mr. Clean and the Jolly Green Giant mashed together) appears, and his actions are pretty reprehensible even though there's a child like quality added to his dangerous character. Cushing, as usual, is urbane and elegant, adding much authority to a part he could easily have played in his sleep.
Only fairly gruesome in a few of the more violent sequences, this independent film has the style of the Hammer horror films of the 1960's and early 70's but lacks the substance. Characterizations are not all that interesting, sans Cushing, Hurt and Gwen Watford as the spell casting housekeeper whose dark appearance and tight bun suggest her character was offered to actress Barbara Steele to play. The period look appears authentic, but at times, the mood doesn't seem to reveal whether this is supposed to be a horror movie with comic elements or a comedy with elements of horror added in. It only becomes apparent after the titled "ghoul" (who looks like Mr. Clean and the Jolly Green Giant mashed together) appears, and his actions are pretty reprehensible even though there's a child like quality added to his dangerous character. Cushing, as usual, is urbane and elegant, adding much authority to a part he could easily have played in his sleep.