Review of Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1943) by Dan B — 19 Nov 2007

Perhaps the most ludicrously titled of Amicus' portmanteau horror films, but the first one I ever saw and the beginning of a life long love of 'The Studio That Dripped Blood'. Less camp than much of Hammer's output, Amicus was like the cinmeatic equivalent of those old EC comics celebrated in 'Creepshow' (Indeed Amicus' 'Tales From the Crypt' and 'Vault of Horror' were both EC adaptations.

) The recipe usually involves a mysterious figure telling a group of strangers of a grisly fate that awaits them, before launching into a series of tales that serve as short sharp shocks with a final twist.

Dr. Terror is no exception - here the sinister fortune teller is Peter Cushing accompanied by a tarot deck and a German accent. In another review I heaped praise on Freddie Francis' cinematography - here as the director the results are more workmanlike.

Viewers of my generation may also find the horror slightly undermined by the incongruous (to 80s kids' eyes) presence of Alan 'Fluff' Freeman ("Not arf!") battling a predatory bit or ivy, and trumpet playing, tap dancing, record breaking Roy Castle as a jazz playing hep cat who gets mixed up in voodoo.

However, Cushing again demonstrates his total commitment to a character even in the midst of undeniable hokum, while Christopher Lee seems to be having great fun as a throughly obnoxious art critic, in the most effective story, "The Disembodied Hand".

A youthful Donald Sutherland also brings a surprising realism to his role in "No Such Thing as a Vampire", giving the final scenes a genuine poignancy. The last moments of the wraparound story are also satisfyingly creepy.

So, not a masterpiece, but great fun. It scared me when I was a kid years ago - it scared my kids today. Can't ask for much more really.