The Shuttered Room (1967)

3.5 / 5  Feb '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: David Greene
Written by: August Derleth, D.B. Ledrov
Actors include: Oliver Reed, Carol Lynley, Gig Young
Genre: Horror
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This was based upon a story written by Derleth of the same name which is based upon a portion of a Lovecraft story. We meet a young couple Mike and Susannah who are going back to Susannah's home to find out about her past. They are very clearly warned to stay the heck away from the townspeople and of course they won't listen. She goes back and stays where she was told to not and starts to learn of horrific murders that are happening. Worse still local thug Oliver Reed has taken a liking to pretty Susannah and his thug buddies are perfectly willing to distract Mike while he gets what he wants. Will the secret of the Mill be able to protect Susannah? It's a relatively simple mystery that they try to keep us in the dark about for most of the time but I'm sure you'll figure it out. Still pretty interesting storytelling once it gets going and some great chase scenes, just not thrilling throughout unfortunately.

Availability:  On DVD as part of a 2fer with It!

The Damned (1963) aka These Are The Damned

3 / 5 Nov '09
Tagline: Come At Your Own Risk ... If You Come Alone!
Directed by: Joseph Losey
Written by: Evan Jones, H.L. Lawrence
Actors include: Macdonald Carey, Oliver Reed, Shirley Anne Field
Genre: Sci-Fi
Length: 96 minutes
Banned: Nope

 

Review:

Though I generally love Hammer films and I think the idea here was a neat one, I didn't love this movie. It took way to long to get to the actual story and it was as if the first half hour didn't count (minus a boring love story). A group of toughs with Oliver Reed at the helm are trolling about with Reed's sister Joan (not in real life, in the film). Joan meets a man she likes and escapes the toughs (Reed won't allow her to date) so she jumps into this guy's boat. When an accident happens and the couple wind up at this strange place with cold children things get stranger. The children seem so lonely, they are talked to through a television and have never met "warm people" before. Of course the couple are compelled to stay and help, but when Reed turns up at the same place (searching for his sister of course) things get weirder. I just wish this were more to the point, less romantic shmoo and less of the terrible theme song the toughs use (seriously bad bad bad). At least the second half of the film is way more interesting than the first half! It really could have been so much better, but instead it feels rather half arsed in my opinion.

Availability:  On DVD as part of the Hammer Icons Of Suspense Collection