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Excellent UK Horror, 28 June 2008

Author: Count_Elvis from the castle of freaks, Tryansalabamia

The time period from the end of World War II to the emergence of the first 3-D movie in 1953 isn't generally well regarded when it comes to horror films. Sure, there are a few classics like "The Body Snatcher", "Isle of the Dead", "Dead of Night" and Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein", but generally speaking the output is pretty low and much of it is rather lackluster. One film though that is quite good from that era but rarely talked about is the 1949 British effort "The Queen of Spades". The story takes place in 1806 Russia, where a gambling craze has taken over. A dashing young captain desperately wants to partake in the craze but finds his self too poor to do so. HE learns of an elderly countess who made a deal with the devil to win at cards, wanting her secret he kills her, but soon he finds himself haunted by her spirit.

"The Queen of Spades" is a superb film in every way. It's a beautifully shot film filled with surrealist imagery thanks to the work of cinematographer Otto Heller (who also worked on another landmark of British horror, "Peeping Tom" in 1960). The script is also very well written with outstanding character development and tons of rich dialogue. I also found Thorold Dickinson's direction to be quite excellent, that man really knows how to deliver one hell of a creepy film. "The Queen of Spades" is simply put an excellent effort in pre-Hammer British horror that is well worth checking out for fans of surrealist cinema.

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