While I am a big fan of British horror films from Amicus and Hammer, this one is certainly not among their better films--mostly because the plot is pretty silly and you must work hard to suspend disbelief to enjoy it and not laugh at some of the plot. But, if you can, you will no doubt find that the film does have a nice spooky atmosphere and could be a bit of fun. Just don't expect a lot from this one.
Professor Maitland (Peter Cushing) is a collector of strange relics. Eventually, some weirdo offers to sell him the skull of the Marquis de Sade--which had been stolen from Christopher Lee. However, when Lee finds out, he isn't angry--telling Cushing he's happy the accursed skull is gone! Lee goes on to tell him that the skull has evil powers and can make you do its bidding. Further, it can even move about by using the powers of Satan! And, soon, all this comes to be. Cushing does indeed have a cursed skull and it makes him have awful dreams and do its evil bidding. Considering he'd been warned and ignored his colleague's entreaties, I say it serves the fool right! Seeing the skull and other things floating about is a bit comical, though I only noticed wires doing this on a rare occasion or two (especially when the book floated about)--so the special effects, for the time, were pretty good. And, the film had excellent creepiness and music. Overall, not great but considering it had Lee AND Cushing, then it can't be all bad.
Oddly, it says on IMDb that the family of the Marguis (who died around the turn of the 18th century) threatened legal action concerning the use of the guy's name in print ads. What the heck?! It's not like they were trying to defend the name of de Sade, where they?! His name is where they derived the term "sadism" due to his very sick behaviors (rape, torture and the like--he really was a horrible and evil troll of a man despite what any movie might say--research him and you'll find out what I mean). And they had the nerve to sue?!?! What's next? Will Hitler's family sue because WWII documentaries cast HIM in a bad light?!?!
Professor Maitland (Peter Cushing) is a collector of strange relics. Eventually, some weirdo offers to sell him the skull of the Marquis de Sade--which had been stolen from Christopher Lee. However, when Lee finds out, he isn't angry--telling Cushing he's happy the accursed skull is gone! Lee goes on to tell him that the skull has evil powers and can make you do its bidding. Further, it can even move about by using the powers of Satan! And, soon, all this comes to be. Cushing does indeed have a cursed skull and it makes him have awful dreams and do its evil bidding. Considering he'd been warned and ignored his colleague's entreaties, I say it serves the fool right! Seeing the skull and other things floating about is a bit comical, though I only noticed wires doing this on a rare occasion or two (especially when the book floated about)--so the special effects, for the time, were pretty good. And, the film had excellent creepiness and music. Overall, not great but considering it had Lee AND Cushing, then it can't be all bad.
Oddly, it says on IMDb that the family of the Marguis (who died around the turn of the 18th century) threatened legal action concerning the use of the guy's name in print ads. What the heck?! It's not like they were trying to defend the name of de Sade, where they?! His name is where they derived the term "sadism" due to his very sick behaviors (rape, torture and the like--he really was a horrible and evil troll of a man despite what any movie might say--research him and you'll find out what I mean). And they had the nerve to sue?!?! What's next? Will Hitler's family sue because WWII documentaries cast HIM in a bad light?!?!