Much maligned and, of course, you have to be honest and acknowledge that it's an inconsistent affair - but I still think that Lee excells in his protrayal of evil. Also, this is an impressive cast. Finally, interesting to witness Hammer's, for then, only foray into 'modern' horror. I think, if they'd kept going at that point, that they could have succeeded in putting a 'Hammer' spin on the contemporary.
Yes, quite a bleak production - fairly downbeat and occasionallt unsettling. I'm glad I've seen it, gld it's in my collection, but I'm in no rush to watch it again.
Love it!!! One of the best of Hammer's suspense films. Follows familiar plotlines but, is it me, or do the two short scenes with the masked figure stalking and slashing feel as if they were ahead of their time by a decade? As for Reed - an absolute legend!
Apologies to Karloff1931 for disagreeing with you again - but I far prefer this to Curse of the Mummy's Tomb. I actually think that Michael Ripper has more to do than usual. there are some great moments in this and a lot of class Brit character actors really have some fun. I like the impassive, implacable aspect to the mummy - yes, the depth of the first film is missing but the idea that something so dead and so strong will just keep going until it's wasted you is a chilling one. My second fave Hammer mummy film.
Trippy stuff!!! Aimed at a more adult audience than most lost world stuff, it certainly needs to be viewed with sympathy these days - but it's still got a deranged charm to it.
Enjoyed this when I first saw it, not even knowing it as a Hammer film! Unfairly (although admittedly understandably) compared to the Hitchcock version, this is as good as any of the multi-star vehicles based on classic crime fiction that abounded at the time (The ThirtyNine Steps, Riddle of the Sands, various Christie). It's a shame that it marked an extended end to big budget production - I still think it stands up pretty well.
Being a Northern lad, I love seeing some of the location work on this - and it shows the best of this era's British crime stars in pretty much his best role in this style.
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28 Aug 2012, 1:09pm
I believe that it will be set in 1930s Hollywood, or something along those lines. I have mixed feelings about these updates.
Related to: Countess Dracula (2013)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 12:33pm
Much maligned and, of course, you have to be honest and acknowledge that it's an inconsistent affair - but I still think that Lee excells in his protrayal of evil. Also, this is an impressive cast. Finally, interesting to witness Hammer's, for then, only foray into 'modern' horror. I think, if they'd kept going at that point, that they could have succeeded in putting a 'Hammer' spin on the contemporary.
Related to: To The Devil A Daughter (1976)
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29 Nov 2011, 12:30pm
This is great! The scenes featuring the corpse are quite chilling - particularly the underwater one!
Related to: Taste of Fear (1961)
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29 Nov 2011, 12:28pm
Yes, quite a bleak production - fairly downbeat and occasionallt unsettling. I'm glad I've seen it, gld it's in my collection, but I'm in no rush to watch it again.
Related to: Straight On Till Morning (1972)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 12:21pm
Interesting little slice of suspense with a surprisingly cynical ending for the era. Douglas Wilmer has gravitas. Good for a second feature short.
Related to: The Right Person (1955)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 12:12pm
Love it!!! One of the best of Hammer's suspense films. Follows familiar plotlines but, is it me, or do the two short scenes with the masked figure stalking and slashing feel as if they were ahead of their time by a decade? As for Reed - an absolute legend!
Related to: Paranoiac (1964)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 12:09pm
Apologies to Karloff1931 for disagreeing with you again - but I far prefer this to Curse of the Mummy's Tomb. I actually think that Michael Ripper has more to do than usual. there are some great moments in this and a lot of class Brit character actors really have some fun. I like the impassive, implacable aspect to the mummy - yes, the depth of the first film is missing but the idea that something so dead and so strong will just keep going until it's wasted you is a chilling one. My second fave Hammer mummy film.
Related to: The Mummy's Shroud (1967)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 12:00pm
Trippy stuff!!! Aimed at a more adult audience than most lost world stuff, it certainly needs to be viewed with sympathy these days - but it's still got a deranged charm to it.
Related to: The Lost Continent (1967)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 11:57am
Enjoyed this when I first saw it, not even knowing it as a Hammer film! Unfairly (although admittedly understandably) compared to the Hitchcock version, this is as good as any of the multi-star vehicles based on classic crime fiction that abounded at the time (The ThirtyNine Steps, Riddle of the Sands, various Christie). It's a shame that it marked an extended end to big budget production - I still think it stands up pretty well.
Related to: The Lady Vanishes (1979)
Big E 70
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29 Nov 2011, 11:46am
Being a Northern lad, I love seeing some of the location work on this - and it shows the best of this era's British crime stars in pretty much his best role in this style.
Related to: Hell Is A City (1960)