Even though I was tremendously looking forward to "The Shuttered Room", for a variety of reasons, it pains me to say the film never at one point surpasses the level of mediocrity.
Here are a few reasons why I eagerly anticipated the film: #1 - the source material. The script is adapted from a short story by none other than H. P. Lovecraft. He's one of the greatest authors who ever lived, and his bleak tales always guarantee horrifying denouements. #2 - The cast. Next to the unearthly beautiful Carol Lynley ("Bunny Lake is Missing", "The Poseidon Adventure") and the reliable veteran Flora Robson ("The Sea Hawk", "Wuthering Heights"), the film stars the downright brilliant Oliver Reed in the role that suits him best, namely the brutal and perverted village thug. #3 - the location and set pieces. Although filmed in England, "The Shuttered Room" takes place in New England (= Lovecraft Country), more particularly on a remote little island community. And you know, in horror movies, small islands and their inhabitants are always ominous!
As you see, all the ingredients for a splendid horror-cocktail are there, but regrettably the script is severely lacking. Lovecraft's "The Shuttered Room" is a SHORT story, and maybe that's what went wrong here. Quite obviously, there is something evil in the attic of the old mill, which links back to the childhood trauma of Susanna Whately and the family curse auntie Agatha keeps raving about, but the script prefers to conceal this vital aspect until the climax. Instead, it's a sort of "Straw Dogs" with Lynley and her elderly husband (Gig Young) being pursued and terrorized by the village yokels led by Oliver Reed. Interestingly, "Straw Dogs" only came out four years later and became a massive cult hit. And besides, even when "The Shuttered Room" reaches its long-overdue finale, it's still a massive letdown.
Here are a few reasons why I eagerly anticipated the film: #1 - the source material. The script is adapted from a short story by none other than H. P. Lovecraft. He's one of the greatest authors who ever lived, and his bleak tales always guarantee horrifying denouements. #2 - The cast. Next to the unearthly beautiful Carol Lynley ("Bunny Lake is Missing", "The Poseidon Adventure") and the reliable veteran Flora Robson ("The Sea Hawk", "Wuthering Heights"), the film stars the downright brilliant Oliver Reed in the role that suits him best, namely the brutal and perverted village thug. #3 - the location and set pieces. Although filmed in England, "The Shuttered Room" takes place in New England (= Lovecraft Country), more particularly on a remote little island community. And you know, in horror movies, small islands and their inhabitants are always ominous!
As you see, all the ingredients for a splendid horror-cocktail are there, but regrettably the script is severely lacking. Lovecraft's "The Shuttered Room" is a SHORT story, and maybe that's what went wrong here. Quite obviously, there is something evil in the attic of the old mill, which links back to the childhood trauma of Susanna Whately and the family curse auntie Agatha keeps raving about, but the script prefers to conceal this vital aspect until the climax. Instead, it's a sort of "Straw Dogs" with Lynley and her elderly husband (Gig Young) being pursued and terrorized by the village yokels led by Oliver Reed. Interestingly, "Straw Dogs" only came out four years later and became a massive cult hit. And besides, even when "The Shuttered Room" reaches its long-overdue finale, it's still a massive letdown.