Castle Sinister (1948) User Reviews

Hooded skeletons and murder - how can it be dull?

[Leofwine_draca · 4/10 · 19 May 2016]

The UK TV channel Talking Pictures TV seem to do a fantastic job in trawling the archives for rare or forgotten movies; CASTLE SINISTER is a case in point. This is a cheap, long-forgotten mystery thriller with a few mild horror aspects, although it's firmly rooted in the post-WW2 era with talk of spies and Nazis on the prowl.

The action is set in and around the titular Scottish castle, where military officials have been murdered and a mysterious hooded skeleton is seen prowling the ruins. Is a ghost really responsible, or is human evil at work? Characters investigate, and there are a few twists and turns in the very short (49 minute!) running time.

Sadly, CASTLE SINISTER is let down by the extreme cheapness of the production, which manifests itself in below par acting from the no-name cast and direction which is strictly pedestrian. I was chiefly interested in the horror aspects of the plot but these are handled in as much a mundane way as the rest of this lacklustre film.

10/10

[dermotthussey · 5/10 · 8 August 2019]

I've seen a lot of bad movies over the years... This is so bad it's brilliant, a much watch... My only criticism is, there were no cardboard sets , this movie deserved. Thank you Talking Pictures for finding this gem.

Night of the Ghouls

[richardchatten · 3/10 · 29 February 2020]

None of the other reviewers have mentioned the scary still from this movie that first made me aware of it's existence on page 203 of Denis Gifford's 'A Pictorial History of Horror Movies' in 1973.

Yes, it's a mess, but full of arresting images (which the soundtrack seems constantly to be competing with), none more arresting than the formidably named Mara Russell-Tavernan as the even more formidably named Gabrielle, Marshioness of Glennye, who looks like Rafaella Ottiano from 'The Devil Doll' in a clingy thirties cocktail gown.

The final breathless explanation of what has hitherto unfolded at a snail's pace is worthy of the scene with the psychiatrist that concludes 'Psycho'.

Bland Ghost Story

[Michael_Elliott · 30 October 2017]

Castle Sinister (1948)

* 1/2 (out of 4)

Rather boring mix of horror and WWII melodrama has a man murdered and then it's rumored that his spirit haunts the castle. A government man is sent to investigate and soon the mystery surrounding the murders are revealed.

This British film is pretty much unknown to most viewers today and it's easy to see why. The film was obviously shot on a very low- budget and there's really not much going on in the film. Even at just forty-six minutes the film seems to last twice as long and there's just not enough happening to make you interested in it.

The biggest problem is certainly the screenplay that starts off with a good murder but from here it's just basically a bunch of people talking. It's really too bad the horror elements weren't played up more because there is a nice atmosphere to the castle and as I said, the opening sequence works nicely.

The performances are all rather bland in their own way and there's no question that none of the actors really add any spice to the material. The direction is decent but there's no style to the film and it just has an overall cheap and bland feel to it.

Scottish?

[brislack · 2/10 · 16 January 2019]

Yes, this was an amateurish item, but perhaps the plot could be copied and used to better effect. The awful acting totally destroyed this film for me. I got the impression it was a Scottish production and there was probably no film industry in that country at the time. As another reviewer pointed out, the Talking Pictures channel should be praised for bringing these old films to us.

One Must Ask - Why?

[TondaCoolwal · 1/10 · 10 August 2019]

Rarely do you watch a film which makes your average primary school Nativity play look like an RSC production; but this was it! Why on earth did they waste good film stock, not to mention any sliver of street-cred possessed by the cast? The acting is abysmal. Many scenes start as if someone has missed their cue and dialogue is delivered in a flat monotone. The plot, such as it is, has to be explained twice. Once at the beginning to set up the story, and again at the end in order for the audience to understand what the Hell has been going on! Briefly, during WW2, a spy is operating in the vicinity of Glennye Castle. Several geriatric Army officers are sent to investigate and end up getting killed by The Phantom who haunts the castle. After this "action" has been repeated several times an Army doctor, Selwyn, turns up and is suddenly revealed to be the spy and possible former lover of Lady Glennye, not to mention likely father of her son Nigel who he has been helping to swing the lead with regard to an injury which keeps him out of the front line. Nigel in turn is The Phantom who murders the investigators to cover Selwyn's activities. However, Nigel suddenly gets cold feet and the whole thing goes pear-shaped But it doesn't matter anyway. Lord Glennye is with MI5 and already knows what is going on. He just wanted to catch Selwyn in the act of trying to smuggle secrets out. And he arrives with a highland regiment. It all sounds a lot better than it really is. Watch only to see how it shouldn't be done!

British ww2 spy thriller

[garethjones-65911 · 1/10 · 15 January 2019]

This is probably the worst movie I've ever seen. Having said that I recommend anyone interested in making films to watch it. The acting is really amateurish, the pace of it is excruciatingly slow, the direction is weak.

Overdubbing is really funny...

[nickharvey-28391 · 2/10 · 15 January 2019]

So if you want a laugh then this is perfect. The intense conversations are also a hoot.

Really poor

[nickharvey-28391 · 2/10 · 15 January 2019]

Considering other great films of the era this is worse than a b movie of the time.

Not a career breakthrough for anybody

[nickjgunning · 2/10 · 25 November 2020]

No idea how this one got as far as test shots. Suitably sinister music covers the barrenness of the script and plot. Most of the cast look as though they've been pulled off manoeuvres in the rough terrain to make an amateur movie. The film stock seems to be past its use-by date giving a 'filmed under water' look. The spoken soundtrack is blurred and thre actors give the impression they've never been in front of a camera before. The music score covers dead patches in the script, and the pace is slow. A very long sequence of the lead actress working the handset rest of a phone to establish that it's disconnected to a background of full orchestral music that would drown out any call she could make, until a lead actor asks if the phone is disconnected, presumably in case the slower wits in the audience don't get it, or, more likely, have been woken up by the loud music. Nearly all of the cast only made one film, probably a relief to all concerned.

Is the phantom Ghostface's Grandfather?

[Stevieboy666 · 4/10 · 30 May 2023]

Little known (well to me at least) short British drama/horror movie, adapted from the play "Mark of Judas" (I have never heard of that either). Set during World War Two a British agent is sent to a castle in the wilds of Scotland to investigate a mysterious murder. In fact there are several murders, carried out by "The Phantom". Phantom wears a black hooded monk's robe and a skull mask, as a horror fan the killer is quite impressive, perhaps an inspiration for Wes Craven's Ghostface from "Scream"? Well probably not but it's a cool thought. Some of the acting is quite bad, some of the "Scottish" accents are very dubious, and some of the night scenes were filmed in broad daylight. The plot is mainly a wartime drama, not a particularly good one, but the Phantom and old castle make it a worthwhile watch for horror fans.

Fun British WWII Mystery/Mild Horror Movie

[heraty-leona · 10/10 · 15 June 2023]

I thoroughly enjoyed this low-budget murder mystery. The phantom who lurks around the spooky Scottish castle adds a mild horror touch.

The plot was decent, although the film quality wasn't the best. I loved the twist at the end. It's short and fun and worth a watch if you enjoy old B movies like I do.

This is a movie that is suitable for the whole family. I wish they still made movies like this. Although the cast is not well known, they still did an excellent job.

This movie was filmed at a castle in the U. K., which makes it spooky and mysterious. If you love old dark house movies, check it out.

Ghost in sinister castle murder mysteries

[bgajunkie · 6/10 · 1 December 2015]

Castle Sinister is a WWII spy murder things-that-go-bump-in-the- night romp that never really takes itself too seriously. The atmospheric brooding dark Glennye Castle is itself a character of the film and as such it gives the most convincing performance of all concerned. Starring relatively unknown British actors & actresses.

The protagonist is a government agent sent up to investigate the rum goings-on at Glennye, where a local agent has been killed and another recently gone missing due to the supernatural appearances of the local spirit. Glennye is supposedly haunted by a hooded, robed spirit of a previous dead lord of Glennye. At the outset this seems a plausible and possibly entertaining murder mystery yarn put in the war context but turns out to be even more far-fetched than a robed hooded spook.

The ploy is threadbare and the acting one-dimensional, let alone wooden. Even after the goings-on have been fully explained I still failed to fully grasp the real motivations behind what was going on, and was left very much like I had just watched a b&w version of a Scooby Doo movie - the only thing missing was the bad guy stating 'I would have gotten away with it, if it wasn't for those pesky kids!'

Talking Pictures TV - Freeview channel 81, Sky 343

It Makes Plan 9 From Outer Space Seem Like Citizen Kane

[By-TorX-1 · 4/10 · 29 November 2020]

Castle Sinister, brought to us by the illustrious Talking Pictures channel, is a 1947 film that feels like it was shot in 1932 given the creaky pace, obviously overdubbed soundtrack, sound cutting in and out, and unfocused camera shots. The case of a skull-faced hooded killer haunting a castle and it's grounds sounds like fun, and at times it is, but the slow story and stilted acting often stymies such pleasures, although it does all kind of come together at the end. However, one might legitimately posit the suggestion that the Phantom of Castle Sinister inspired Scream! Or perhaps not...

"Be Sensible, Woman!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 22 May 2021]

CASTLE SINISTER opens with the murder of a military man, by a hooded, cloaked figure. An agent from the war office is dispatched to investigate the incident, leading him to the castle of the title. It is said that it contains a "phantom". There have also been other murders, allegedly committed by this mysterious entity.

The mystery is solved in an unexpected way.

The story seems cut up and stitched back together in places, like some pieces are missing, and others were added in. In spite of this, it's enjoyable enough. Especially, at only 49 minutes in length. It's not long enough to become overly tiresome!...

Dire

[malcolmgsw · 2/10 · 11 January 2021]

I have recently viewed the remake of this film,The Devils Jest,which is even worse than this awful film.Acting,directing and writing are equally bad.Mercigully this only lasts 49 minutes.

Hilariously bad...a classic.

[duncanrgunn · 2/10 · 12 March 2024]

Hilariously bad on all levels, Castle Sinister (even the title is a stinker) is a romp through how not to make a film.

The screenplay, none of which is synced making for some bizarre editing decisions, is unerringly dull and is delivered by the cast in the style of a first run-through at the local am-dram society. The plot is, on one level mundane and simplistic, but also so bizarrely told that every so often we are lectured to by a character, and even an unexpected narrator at one point, to keep us up to date.

The ensemble actually have a special talent in being so wooden, each and every one of them. The edit is so tight that the 'action' command is almost still ringing in the air at the beginning of each scene.

The lighting is weird too. You'd bet on most scenes being in the dead of night until the characters step outside to find it's broad daylight. And then there's the continuity. Close-up of a left hand grabbing a revolver; cut to the character holding it with their right hand. Brilliant.

Well under an hour long and thoroughly enjoyable in its badness.

Film of wooden ghouls

[ofairfax · 1/10 · 7 January 2021]

The actors perform as if they are reading the script for the first time and don't believe a word of it.

Dare YOU spend the night at historically hateful 'Castle Sinister?

[Weirdling_Wolf · 7/10 · 4 June 2022]

Oscar Burn's concise, 50 minute long, still-spooky Gothic bone-chiller 'Castle Sinister' (1947) thrillingly retains much of its teeth-rattlingly creepy charm, making this one unmissable terrific terror titbit for vintage mystery fans. Just who is the hideous-looking hooded spectre that so inhospitably haunts the vast crepuscular grounds of the austere, forbidding, and most shuddersome Glennye Castle? The superstitious, greatly afeared locals anxiously insist that it is the restless vengeful spirit of a grievously wronged former lord, monstrously returned from his musty tomb to terrorize all those foolish enough to enter this ill-omened doomy domain! Dare YOU spend the night at historically hateful 'Castle Sinister' and find out the shocking truth behind these grisly murders?