You have here a lot of good atmospherics involving fog, several canines, and generally fine but somewhat routine mystery components, with competent acting and good Universal Studios production values.
June Lockhart is a lovely young beginner actress in this movie. But with a terrific supporting cast that includes Dennis Hoey, Martin Kosleck, Frederick Worlock and others it should have been better. The problem is, its simply lacking. It lacks a monster with scary make-up, a knowledgeable old expert doctor or scientist, or great mystery detective. There is no strange gypsy woman or macabre character of any sort. I did see quite a bit of canine activity but did not notice any werewolf type animal.
Don Porter is the leading man but his part is way underwritten and he really doesn't have much to do so I won't fault his acting. He is OK for what he was probably paid which was most likely very little.
And its odd that so much of the film plays out on the familiar Universal mansion front door/front porch set (the British of the film's locale would probably call it the "forecourt") that is in so many Universal films of the era. The set itself doesn't bother me at all but I do believe that in this movie it reflects an overall lack of imagination in sets and staging, being used repeatedly in so many scenes.
Fans of the Universal product of the era will probably find this film satisfying but its too bad it doesn't have more oomph.
June Lockhart is a lovely young beginner actress in this movie. But with a terrific supporting cast that includes Dennis Hoey, Martin Kosleck, Frederick Worlock and others it should have been better. The problem is, its simply lacking. It lacks a monster with scary make-up, a knowledgeable old expert doctor or scientist, or great mystery detective. There is no strange gypsy woman or macabre character of any sort. I did see quite a bit of canine activity but did not notice any werewolf type animal.
Don Porter is the leading man but his part is way underwritten and he really doesn't have much to do so I won't fault his acting. He is OK for what he was probably paid which was most likely very little.
And its odd that so much of the film plays out on the familiar Universal mansion front door/front porch set (the British of the film's locale would probably call it the "forecourt") that is in so many Universal films of the era. The set itself doesn't bother me at all but I do believe that in this movie it reflects an overall lack of imagination in sets and staging, being used repeatedly in so many scenes.
Fans of the Universal product of the era will probably find this film satisfying but its too bad it doesn't have more oomph.