Swinging sixties London: A group of bored twenty-something partygoers led by Chris (played by Frankie Avalon) go to explore an old Gothic mansion, which is supposedly haunted at the suggestion of Richard (played by Julian Barnes) who said he used to play there as a kid. They get kicks out of exploring the place and holding a séance, but when they become separated in the dark, Gary (played by Mark Wynter), is brutally murdered by a crazed assailant with a machete. On discovering the crime, his friends decide to hide the body and pretend that he disappeared because some of them have got criminal records for drugs offences and do not want to become involved with the police. Several weeks pass and the group are gripped by guilt and fear, and when Gary is finally reported as a missing person, the police question them. Meanwhile, the middle-aged, jealous and married ex- boyfriend of Sylvia (played by Gina Warwick), Kellett (played by George Sewell), goes to the scene of the crime to retrieve an engraved lighter that could link both of them to the murder and he himself is killed. Chris believes that the killer has to be one of the group and persuades them to return to the house in order to recreate the fatal night in a bid to discover which of their number is a homicidal maniac. And in doing so they find themselves in grave peril...
A flawed, patchy but interesting horror flick from Tigon-American International. It is hampered by the subplot involving the Gina Warwick character's relationship with a married, older man (played by George Sewell) and the scenes at what is supposed to be a swinging London party and the police investigation are as equally uninspired, flatly directed and the performances wooden. Even the dignified presence of Dennis Price as the police inspector cannot arouse much interest. There is also the added addition of a truly dire musical number, 'Responsibility', sung by former pop star Mark Wynter who had graced the UK charts with classics like 'Venus In Blue Jeans' and 'Go Away Little Girl' in the early 60's before he turned to an acting career. Frankie Avalon had himself been a rock and roll teen idol in America in the late 50's with chart-toppers like 'Venus' and 'Why' before he too became a successful actor. However, the shock sequences in the old dark house are an entirely different matter. They are skillfully handled by director Michael Armstrong - well staged with direction, lighting, camerawork and mood music combining to create very high levels of edge-of-seat tension. The murders are very graphic for their time (and still look horrific now) and point the way towards the more gory depiction of horror on screen that would come in the ensuing years. As the film progresses the performances of the young cast, which includes future TV sitcom stars such as Richard O' Sullivan and Robin Stewart, get better and they manage to convey quite well the fear and hysteria of their predicament that adds to the overall horrific effect. However, the best performance in the film comes from Julian Barnes.
A flawed, patchy but interesting horror flick from Tigon-American International. It is hampered by the subplot involving the Gina Warwick character's relationship with a married, older man (played by George Sewell) and the scenes at what is supposed to be a swinging London party and the police investigation are as equally uninspired, flatly directed and the performances wooden. Even the dignified presence of Dennis Price as the police inspector cannot arouse much interest. There is also the added addition of a truly dire musical number, 'Responsibility', sung by former pop star Mark Wynter who had graced the UK charts with classics like 'Venus In Blue Jeans' and 'Go Away Little Girl' in the early 60's before he turned to an acting career. Frankie Avalon had himself been a rock and roll teen idol in America in the late 50's with chart-toppers like 'Venus' and 'Why' before he too became a successful actor. However, the shock sequences in the old dark house are an entirely different matter. They are skillfully handled by director Michael Armstrong - well staged with direction, lighting, camerawork and mood music combining to create very high levels of edge-of-seat tension. The murders are very graphic for their time (and still look horrific now) and point the way towards the more gory depiction of horror on screen that would come in the ensuing years. As the film progresses the performances of the young cast, which includes future TV sitcom stars such as Richard O' Sullivan and Robin Stewart, get better and they manage to convey quite well the fear and hysteria of their predicament that adds to the overall horrific effect. However, the best performance in the film comes from Julian Barnes.