Though owing a bit to the Gothic tradition of Hammer Horror, this British ghost story is actually more attuned to the cycle made in this vein and running parallel to it emanating from Italy. Apart from the color scheme (courtesy of cinematographer Peter Newbrook, later director of the literate horror film THE ASPHYX {1972}) and languid pace, obvious links include the haunted protagonist (with many a skeleton in his family closet),the innocent heroine, the killing spree, the apparitions (which are usually revealed to be far closer to home and reality than one could have foreseen),etc.

Leading lady Heather Sears had just appeared in Hammer's underrated version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1962). Her male counterpart, John Turner (and resembling John Payne quite a bit actually),was new to me but he certainly left an impression - making for one of the most irascible heroes in any film, constantly blowing his top at everyone and everything, sometimes without provocation!; indeed, the whole unfolds at a somewhat hysterical pitch which seems to be an idiosyncrasy of the director. As it happens, this is one of a handful of interesting genre efforts from him: the others are CORRUPTION (1968),THE FIEND aka BEWARE, MY BRETHREN (1972) - both of which I am familiar with - and the as-yet-unwatched BLOODSUCKERS aka INCENSE FOR THE DAMNED (1972); for the record, I also own and still need to check out his star-studded comedy THE SANDWICH MAN (1966). Anyway, also on hand here are Peter Arne (seemingly devoted to the estate's invalid master and his son but unsurprisingly proving to be villainous),Patrick Troughton (as Turner's stable-master),Raymond Huntley (as a seasoned Colonel also serving as Magistrate in the community) and Francis de Wolff (as a stout blacksmith who acts gruffly and confrontationally towards Turner upon the latter's return from abroad with a second wife over a series of apparent hauntings/murders).

The hero's father is cared for by the sister (Ann Lynn) of Turner's first bride - who, it seems committed suicide by leaping from a window because she could not produce a male heir (again, this alone should immediately alert one to her role in the elaborate revenge scheme!). Another party who comes into play towards the end is a man who is the spitting image of the hero, a twin whom the old man kept institutionalized (he is repeatedly described as an "imbecile") and a secret to everybody, but who was 'reclaimed' for their own devious ends once Arne and Lynn take control of the household following their master's debilitating condition; with this in mind, the family tree (called "Bible"!?) and motto (which pretty much conditioned the extreme actions of Turner's late spouse) have much to do with the proceedings. As I said, we get a number of motiveless murders of wayward wenches, as well as one that is clearly premeditated (the old man is found hanging from a chandelier after his empty wheelchair has come crashing down the stairs!) - not to mention eerie sightings outside the window, with the 'phantom' even giving chase to the cry of "Murderer" and, for the grand finale, a gun-shot wound to the face plus a rather well-choreographed swordfight!

This film is set in the 18th century. Sir Richard Fordyke has just returned home from a long visit to London and he's brought with him a new bride. However, soon strange reports are brought to Sir Richard's attention--reports of him rampaging about the countryside committing various atrocities! There are also reports about his dead wife also riding about at night shouting 'murderer!'. Yet, this cannot be--as many of these incidents occurred during this London trip. And, after his return, more and more weird incidents happen. Soon, the locals are clamoring for justice--that the wicked Sir Richard be brought to trial for his sins.

The audience is never sure about what's happening until the end--and that makes this a very, very good story. You aren't sure is Richard is nuts or if he has an evil twin or if there are demons about or he has some odd doppelganger. All you know is that there is lots of room for doubt and you start to feel sorry for the guy. It makes for a very tense and very involving story--a fine Gothic horror film that you won't soon forget. Nice acting, a nice creepy mood and wonderful locales all help to make this a very nice film overall.

By the way, how is it that at the end, one of the characters was stabbed with a sword and there was no blood...none. Yet, they were wearing a WHITE outfit. Weird. Also, the plot, in MANY ways is like the Hugo episode from one of "The Simpsons" Halloween shows!

Some viewers may not even refer to this as a horror film. It's more of a Gothic mystery with elements of horror, particularly the Hammer films, several of the Vincent Price American International films, and certainly Italian and German thrillers of the 1960's, particularly the Mario Bava films from Italy.

British nobleman John Turner is returning home with his much younger bride (Heather Sears),a sweet and completely innocent young lady unprepared for what she will find. At first, all goes well, but changes in her husband's behavior and his sudden reappearances after allegedly leaving. The presence of the pretty but seemingly cold Ann Lynn casts a shadow over the marriage until Sears realizes a shocking truth.

Hopefully you can find a print of this in the magnificent quality I did because the colors are vivid and every detail is stunning. There are quite a few slow points in the film, but films of this type require sharp detail. I've seen this plotline in various forms, most notably Boris Karloff's 1935 forgotten classic, "The Black Room". This is a 60's discovery that is worthy of classic status.