Though made at Shepperton Studios, this film follows the Hammer style rather closely, down to casting two Hammer film alumni, Heather Sears and Patrick Troughton from Phantom of the Opera.
The period details are nicely rendered with lots of attention to small details like candle snuffing and moving a carriage up a rather steep incline. The costumes also look nice as does the beautiful estate where the action takes place. Unfortunately, that's the best this movie has going for it.
Spoilers Ahead!!! Opening with a scene straight out of numerous Hammer horror films, a buxom young lady is chased through the woods at night by a shadowy killer. This scene is well done and has a jolting conclusion. The rest of the film slows down considerably with a rather tedious plot about someone trying to discredit and possibly drive Sir Richard mad. I've seen a few of these types of films before, and it quickly became apparent who was behind the plot. Once you see that supernatural forces are not at play, the list of suspects is very short indeed. The ending picks up a bit with not one but two late in the movie plot twists and a sword fight.
Lead actor John Turner tends to over emote in his later scenes as he receives shock after shock in the (overly) elaborate plot to drive him mad. He starts chewing scenery and pretty much blows poor Heather Sears, in a nicely understated performance, off the screen, and I don't mean that in a good way. The supporting actors all do nicely, I just wish they had been given more to do.
If you're looking for a Gothic style murder mystery with supernatural overtones, you could do much worse, but you could stick with a Hammer film like Hound of the Baskervilles and do much better.
The period details are nicely rendered with lots of attention to small details like candle snuffing and moving a carriage up a rather steep incline. The costumes also look nice as does the beautiful estate where the action takes place. Unfortunately, that's the best this movie has going for it.
Spoilers Ahead!!! Opening with a scene straight out of numerous Hammer horror films, a buxom young lady is chased through the woods at night by a shadowy killer. This scene is well done and has a jolting conclusion. The rest of the film slows down considerably with a rather tedious plot about someone trying to discredit and possibly drive Sir Richard mad. I've seen a few of these types of films before, and it quickly became apparent who was behind the plot. Once you see that supernatural forces are not at play, the list of suspects is very short indeed. The ending picks up a bit with not one but two late in the movie plot twists and a sword fight.
Lead actor John Turner tends to over emote in his later scenes as he receives shock after shock in the (overly) elaborate plot to drive him mad. He starts chewing scenery and pretty much blows poor Heather Sears, in a nicely understated performance, off the screen, and I don't mean that in a good way. The supporting actors all do nicely, I just wish they had been given more to do.
If you're looking for a Gothic style murder mystery with supernatural overtones, you could do much worse, but you could stick with a Hammer film like Hound of the Baskervilles and do much better.