"The Skull" is an atmospheric--if somewhat monotonous--vehicle for Peter Cushing, the Gentleman of British Horror and my favorite star of fright films. He plays a collector of occult objects whose shady, unscrupulous dealer (Patrick Wymark) offers to sell him the ultimate rarity: the skull of the Marquis de Sade. Naturally, Cushing is unable to resist...but he soon realizes that something within the skull is still very much alive, and exerting a murderous influence over him. Director Freddie Francis surrounds Cushing with an exceptionally able supporting cast (including Christopher Lee as a fellow collector of oddities and Michael Gough as an auctioneer), but pacing is a major problem in this film: there are lengthy, dialogue-free stretches during which the viewer will find his attention wandering. This renders "The Skull" less than entirely effective as a horror flick, but the tense, disturbing dream sequence midway through makes it worth seeing. Terrific off-kilter cinematography by John Wilcox, and a nail-biting Elisabeth Lutyens score. Six and a half stars.
The Skull
(1965)
Flawed but interesting chiller based on a story by Robert Bloch
27 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers