It is late after midnite and i shall save later why in depth this is so important of a film in Hammer Lore.
However,for the time being:
This pic has substance,
it has subtlety and verve.Further,it is riveting and filled w\many quite fascinating aspects of the Occult.
I believe,Lee,has said this is his fave role of all...
...he probably knows whereof he speaks !
There is much to recommend:
-Lee's Duc de Richlieu(rich indeed)
-Bernard's score
-mood is exquisite !
-strong cast
-imaginative
-exc.pacing
-Gray's deadly Mocata
etc.
I know, this is one Hammer film I have to see once in a while.
It's a downplayed horror drama, with moments as quiet and chilling as I've never seen elsewhere. No jumping fiery demons with bloody fangs and ripping gore, but the sense and terror of pure, oozing evil.
A masterpiece.
"I don't discriminate between entertainment
and arthouse. A film is a goddam film."
Yes,there is a sense in which this jewel is "underplayed" and,I believe,this gives it its potency.
It is intelligent,literate and allows the audience to digest its weird possibilities. Much is going on including time travel ! But in the world of the occult anything is possible if one is to view an obscure(?)Hammer masterpiece.
Bravo Terence Fisher and we are the sadder for the unfilmed two which were never shot to which we lack a Trilogy of Wheatley's canon.
Yes, I just watched it for the first time today and found it to be a very pleasing movie. I wondered why I didn't watch it sooner. Occult horror movies dealing with religious themes (Satan, demons, and cults) are often my favorite ones and this is a very good example of that.
Burn, witch! Burn, witch! Burn! Burn! Burn!
Here is a film with subtlety, verve and the unsettling of the nerves !
One of Lee's best roles infused with breeding and heroics.Nice to see the contrast.Strong cast with an overarching villain in Chas.Gray. Superb casting.Marvey atmosphere as putting frosting on the grand old cake.
ps Night of the Eagle 1962(Classic + clever)
Hi plwblj. I agree that the cast is superb and that the film conveys evil very subtly without over the top gore. The scene where the Duc and his friends are in the circle and the giant spider approaches Penny is really effective.
shareI Love Hammer films and yes this is one of the better ones :)
sharegood but not the greatest.
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