London, 1880. Young doctor is called to country called Gorslava, Gothic place of mist, handsomely dressed castles, evil aristocrats and endangered young women. Masked and disfigured Sardonicus (Guy Rolfe) has prettily dressed wife (Audrey Dalton) whose greedy blonde predecessor has killed herself and now he uses her wife to get the young doctor to help him... Although the Baron is more cruel and depraved than insane, the film lacks the modern sleaze-tinged approach to the suffering of sympathetic, tortured maids - so all you perverts there, this may bore you to death! Gothic atmosphere is quite effective, script by Ray Russell (based on his own short story) quite good and black-and-white photography pristine. This is definitely best film from director/producer William Castle.
Review of Mr. Sardonicus
