Review of Disciple Of Death (1972) by Troy H — 17 Nov 2012

Former DJ Mike Raven made a go of it as a horror star, partly because he liked the genre and partly because folks told him he looked like a cross between Christopher Lee and Vincent Price; in fairness, he kinda did.

Having already played a vampire for Hammer in Lust for a Vampire (wherein he was dubbed by Valentine Dyall and had insert closeups of his bloodshot eyes replaced with closeups of Christopher Lee's eyes from Dracula Has Risen from the Grave), and having provided wooden support to Lee and Peter Cushing in I, Monster (1970), he went on to do the Italian-flavored Crucible of Horror (1971).

It wasn't very good, but it looks positively astonishing compared to this cheapie, which the actor partly financed himself. The story is nonsensical, the direction is amateurish, and the acting in unspeakable.

It is, however, worth a few laughs. Ronald Lacey (Raiders of the Lost Ark) is on hand in fake eye brows and a powdered wig, and his performance is... eccentric, to say the least. Raven again proves that despite an imposing look, he had zero acting ability.

Pretty much the nadir of British horror in the 1970s.