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Mr. Sardonicus
Mr. Sardonicus (1961)
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JoeB131 15 June 2009
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more comments on this film. I recall this film from my early youth on WGN's Creature Features. Sardonicus' father reminded me of my own grandfather (a German immigrant) and his evilness was unique. When I got older, I saw this again and got some of the more subtle character interactions.
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This was, of course, the product of William Castle, the Gimmick King. His gimmick this time was that he allegedly shot two endings, and gave audiences the option of voting on which ending they wanted by holding up a glow-in-the-dark ballot. (The Creature Features version skipped the polling part.) Most movie sources say that there was only one ending ever shot, but modern versions have the "polling" scene anyway.
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Related lists from IMDb users Spec 2 a list of 46 titles created 5 months ago
Personally, I think the film works better without the gimmick. Of course, Sardonicus is evil, ungrateful 14 out of 14 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this and cruel and he deserves the betrayal at the end of the film he gets.
31 Days of Horror - 10/11 a list of 32 titles created 17 Feb 2012
In some ways, it was getting around the Hayes code, since the wife wants to cheat on her husband 10/10 her loveless marriage. Overall, it's quite the Gothic horror film and is highly underrated.
Best ever of the genre; an absolute delight.
1960's UNDER THE RADAR : TOP 100
Len Helfgott 16 January 1999
a list of 28 titles created 12 Sep 2014
No less a writer than Stephen King has called the novella "Sardonicus" perhaps "finest example of modern gothic horror ever written." I have delighted and relished the novella and the movie all my life, and I saw and read these when they first came out (1961). YES, the movie is "hokie". Yes, the movie is directed at the juvenile set, as all of William Castle's pictures were. But for those of us who were around in the William Castle era, the entertainment provided by his movies was supreme (consider the homage, "Matinee"), Everything anyone could want in a 19th century gothic horror appears in Sardonicus--including villains, heroes, beautiful virtuous maidens, Transylvania, leeches, hypo-dermic needles (my hyphen), and even a deformed Igor-type (herein called Krull), played to PERFECTION, PERFECTION, PERFECTION by the late great Oscar Homolka. This movie was thought of so highly by the writers of "Wiseguy" the TV series, that they used it as a sub-plot for a multi-episode "miniseries" within the series.
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6/10
Silly Gothic Fun gftbiloxi 24 April 2005
William Castle usually marketed his movies with gimmicks, and for MR. SARDONICUS the gimmick was "the punishment poll." When the film played in theatrical release, audience members were issued a voting card, and near the movie's conclusion Castle himself appeared on the screen and asked the audience to vote: show the card thumbs up to show mercy, thumbs down for none. Now, in theory, there were two different endings, and the ending shown depended on the audience vote--but no one ever saw the "show mercy" ending and it seems unlikely that it ever existed at all. And you certainly won't find it here: Sardonicus is punished every time. For once Castle should have left well enough alone. The Punishment Poll is the only seriously weak thing in the entire film, which has a considerably better script and over-all better cast than most Castle outings. The story, which shows influences from everything from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to Dracula to THE MAN THAT LAUGHED, concerns a grotesquely disfigured man who uses his wife to lure a noted specialist to his castle in the wilds of "Gorslavia"--and who then proceeds to make 22 out of 24 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this every one's life as miserable as possible, and that's throwing roses at it. Young women are molested, hung from the ceiling, nibbled on by leeches, and threatened with surgery designed to make them look as hideous as Sardonicus himself.
a "ghoulish delight"
laffinsal 12 October 2000 The cast is quite good, with Oskar Homolka a standout as Krull, Sardonicus' equally depraved
servant. The lovely Audrey Dalton is also memorable as Sardonicus' unwilling wife. But the real star Of the great William Castle's classic gimmick films, this is generally regarded as one of the lesser of the film is the make-up, which was quite famous in its day and is still capable of giving you a jolt. ones. It should be seen for the amusing period piece that it is, and for the hilarious concept of the And along the way we're treated to a number of campy Castle flourishes that add to the fun. But MR. "Punishment Poll" with which it was originally exhibited. Upon its original release, viewers were SARDONICUS is surprisingly cohesive for a Castle movie, and it moves along at a smart pace and allowed to vote "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" for the fate of the title character. In actuality, there is has an interestingly atmospheric look. Most Castle films appeal almost exclusively to fans of cult and only one ending, but it's a pretty good one. The actors in this film are all good, with Oscar Homolka B-movies, but just about every one will find this one entertaining. Lots of silly Gothic fun! Gary F. being the highlight as the sinister assistant. There is good atmosphere, with plenty of fog and Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer shadows, and the story is intriguing, if not entertaining. The music by Von Dexter, who worked on several other Castle films, is also notable. Definitely a fun film for those who like the old-time horror films which sacrifice gore for suspense, and a must-see for fans of William Castle. 11 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
8/10
Classic William Castle mr. sardonicus 5 September 2000
Many consider William Castle to be a sort of used car salesman turned film-maker. Admittedly, he relies heavily on hype, and admittedly his hype has worn a little thin over the years, but Bill Castle has been involved with some memorable movies over the years. The Tingler, Rosemary's Baby, Strait Jacket, and Mr. Sardonicus are his most entertaining ventures. No doubt, Mr. Sardonicus will seem awfully tame to younger audiences seeking shock value and graphic gore, but to those who enjoy a more old fashioned style of horror film, Sardonicus has a definite appeal. The story line is very unique, the acting is good (especially by Guy Rolfe playing the title character), and the ending is great. Rolfe is great as the kindly, respectful peasant turned nasty, unfeeling aristocrat. Sure, the special effects are a little long in the tooth, but sit a young child down in front of this movie and watch his/her reaction when Sardonicus reveals his condition. I remember being scared witless watching this as a youth. Actually, I wouldn't recommend this movie for the very young, but it's a lot of fun for the young at heart. If you enjoy 1950s horror films, check out this little-known gem. 23 out of 26 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
7/10
Surprsingly literate and effective shocker lrrap 13 April 2009
Of the William Castle films with which I'm familiar, "Sardonicus" is definitely the best. If you strip away some of the schlocky "padding" (the maid with the leeches, the "beauty contest" in the cellar, etc) you have a remarkably effective and entertaining film. Ray Russell's plotting and dialog are pretty high quality stuff, and some of the conversations have an almost poetic quality, especially in the scenes between Guy Rolfe and Ronald Lewis. Of course, the dialog is all the more effective when delivered by a fine cast, and the stately, urbane Rolfe, the amiable and stalwart Lewis and the delightfully quirky and sinister Oscar Holmolka elevate this film FAR above its low-budget liabilities. Castle's direction is more than competent, my only complaint being the overly bright lighting throughout the castle interior, which robs many scenes of their creepy potential. THEN THERE IS THE GRAVEYARD SCENE----a masterpiece of its type in the annals of horror 9 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this films. Acting, direction, cinematography, etc ALL rise to the occasion, with the shocking revelation within the coffin and the psychological dimension of its effect on Marek/Sardonicus producing a scene which is as horrifying and disturbing as it is memorable; it's impossible to describe--you simply 6/10 have to see it yourself. And the trauma continues as Guy Rolfe stumbles home in the dark, sobbing pathetically, where his wife (and we the viewer) first discovers his hideous deformity. I initially saw Disturbing but memorable! this film on TV when I was 20 years old and it STILL scared the crap out of me! Thank God I didn't Sandra (moonchildiva-1) 28 June 2005 see it when it was first released. I saw this in the "show" when I was about 10, and seriously, I have never forgotten it. About 20 years HERE'S A THOUGHT--- the shot of Sardonicus' father's corpse is so profoundly upsetting (to US as ago, I noticed that it was on a station out of Toledo in the middle of the night, and even though I had viewers as well as Guy Rolfe in the film)that I don't believe it was designed and created by Castle and to get up in the morning, and they had commercials every 10 minutes, I stayed up (after setting the his team; I bet anything that they "FARMED OUT" this shot to an effects team in Mexico--where the alarm to GET UP) and watched the whole movie... I guess I am a William Castle fan, I have to admit horror effects artists were FAR better at creating visuals of this sort. The final shot of the coffin lid it. (One other that still kills me is Homicidal, and woo hoo Richard Rust is in it, too, my favorite!) I opening (all the more creepy since it appears to open BY ITSELF)is interesting; if you look closely, play the lottery every day now, too, and that storyline about the ticket in the grave just GETS ME!! you will notice that this is a DIFFERENT coffin lid than the one in the previous shots; the pattern of This is one odd film, like everything Castle does, but ya gotta love it!! It sticks with you, once you've dirt and mold is different, as are the seams between the wooden planks. When the father's remains seen it, you are hooked forever. turn up later in the shocking padlocked-room scene, it's clear that the quality of workmanship is nowhere near as good as the coffin figure, instead appearing to be the sort of effect that Castle's 19 out of 22 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this production team would have created from their modest budget. I imagine that it's impossible to ever know whether or not my idea is correct, since too much time has passed since the film was made. 8/10 Many people make a big deal about the "Punishment Poll" gimmick for the film, but it's really just a distraction for any serious viewer; too bad that Castle's 11th-hour on-screen appearance breaks the Something else money can't buy you; a nice face! mood just prior to the classically understated irony of the final scene. The_Void 20 April 2006
William Castle had cemented his reputation as a director of fun, gimmicky horror films by 1961, but for this one he's (almost!) dropped the fun feel and replaced it with a more serious tone; and in doing so has gone and created his best film! The film opens with an introduction from the director (I said he'd ALMOST dropped the fun feel), and from there we move onto a macabre tale of greed, curses, grave robbing and disfigurement. Based on a novella by Ray Russell, the film takes obvious influence from George Franju's masterpiece 'Eyes without a Face' in that it follows the horrifying idea of someone having their face scarred beyond belief. The tale puts greed at its centre, and it is that deadly sin which is to blame for the title character's affliction. We follow a prominent English doctor who is called to Europe on the request of his ex-lover. While there, he meets the cruel and sinister Baron Sardonicus; a man who is forced to wear a mask as his face is too hideous to look at. It's not long thereafter that we learn the reason for this facial deformity, as the man retells the tale of how he robbed his father's grave for a winning lottery ticket. 10 out of 11 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
William Castle may not be the greatest director of all time, but here he creates just the right tone for the story to flourish in. The Gothic locations, sinister score and foreboding mood combine to ensure that the story is both gripping and as hideous as its central protagonist. This is helped along by the 7/10 fact that the central characters are well fleshed out, and all of their motives make sense. Mr Sardonicus himself verges on comic book villainy at times, and as the plot is fairly ludicrous, this isn't The Lottery Ticket always the easiest film to swallow. However, Castle ensures that the action always makes sense, Claudio Carvalho 9 August 2017 and it has to be said that the tale has been given as good handling as it could afford. Castle's love for showboating shows through towards the end, however, when he tries one of his 'interactive cinema' In the Nineteenth Century, in London, the prominent medical doctor Sir Robert Cargrave (Ronald tricks regarding the fate of Mr Sardonicus. It is these sort of things that make William Castle films Lewis) receives a letter from his former sweetheart Baroness Maude Sardonicus (Audrey Dalton) with what they are, and it fits films like The Tingler; but here Castle's segment feels out of place, given the invitation to visit her husband Baron Sardonicus (Guy Rolfe) and her at his castle in Gorslava. that the tone of the movie is largely serious. However, it's not enough to spoil what is a great Gothic Soon Sir Robert learns that the notorious Baron is an appalling man that frightens the local population. horror story and overall I highly recommend this film to horror fanatics! On the arrival in the castle Sir Roberts sees Sardonicus's servant Krull (Oscar Homolka) torturing a maid with leeches in a weird experiment. He meets Maude and her husband that wears a mask covering his face. Sir Robert has a private conversation with Sardonicus and he learns that the Baron was the peasant Marek Toleslawski that lived in a poor house with his wife Elenka Toleslawski (Erika Peters) and his father Henryk Toleslawski (Vladimir Sokoloff), who gives a lottery ticket as a gift to Elenka and dies. Months later, Marek and Elenka learn that they have won the lottery; however the ticket was buried with Henryk. Marek decides to retrieve the ticket in his father's grave and when he sees the face of Henryk, he freezes his face with a horrible grimace. Sardonicus wants Robert to recover his face; otherwise he will destroy Maude's face. Will Sir Robert succeed? 5 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
"Mr. Sardonicus" is a creepy horror film directed by William Castle. The story is a sort of combination of the story lines of "Nosferatu" (or "Dracula"), "The Man Who Laughs" and "Les Yeux Sans Visage" 9/10 among others. William Castle plays with the audiences asking for the fate of Sardonicus. The makeup of Sardonicus is impressive. My vote is seven.
Mr. Sardonicas
Scarecrow-88 20 October 2009 Title (Brazil): "A Máscara do Horror" ("The Mask of the Horror") Warning: Spoilers
5 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
9/10
Imaginative story and creepy atmosphere make for effective Gothic chiller mlraymond 7 December 2006 Warning: Spoilers
5 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
8/10
William Castle + Gothic horror= Pure entertainment TheFinalAlias 3 October 2009 Warning: Spoilers
7 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
Excellent Castle cult classic FilmFlaneur 28 January 2002 Warning: Spoilers
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5/10
" In a loveless marriage, few would ever blame her if she left him " thinker1691 22 October 2009 Warning: Spoilers
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6/10
Okay when I was young I saw this movie smidget28 4 November 2000
And it scared the hell out of me. The face is just too smiley for even the cheeriest of folks. I was scared out of my wits by this black and white movie...most adults would probably find funny. So, decide for yourself. 6 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
7/10
Surprisingly effective Gothic silliness minamurray 8 October 2009 Warning: Spoilers
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8/10
One of William Castle's most creepy and enjoyable horror films Woodyanders 24 April 2008 Warning: Spoilers
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6/10
While not a particularly great film, like so many of Castle's films it's a lot of fun MartinHafer 1 November 2008
This film never had a chance of winning any awards or high praise from the critics and this is no surprise. Like many of William Castle's films, this isn't high art and it was meant to be very broad horror that would appeal to the common man and woman in the audience. In many places the plot seemed silly and tough to believe but because of Castle's style, it was still a lot of fun to watch-particularly the silly voting segment and subsequent evil ending of the film. As for the unbelievable plot, a famous doctor is called by an old sweetheart to travel across Europe to help her. However, when he arrives, she behaves like there is nothing the matter! However, it soon becomes obvious that her husband is having major issues, as he walks everywhere with a mask over his face. It turns out that a great scare years earlier permanently contorted his face into a silly and unrealistic looking grimace and the doctor is threatened into treating the crazy afflicted man. Throughout all this, there are tons of unnecessary but cool torture and mayhem--such as seeing the 4 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this maid hung by her thumbs and having leeches pasted all over her face. Sardonicus is a jerk in this film and it's really hard to care about his facial anomaly. 7/10 By the way, IMDb doesn't mention this, but the mask that Sardonicus wears looks an awful lot like William Castle's face and I am sure that with the director's quirky sense of humor that this was Ghoulish fun. intentional. Scott LeBrun 8 October 2015 Warning: Spoilers
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"My name was not always Sardonicus and I did not always wear a mask." utgard14 17 June 2014
An English surgeon is summoned to a European village by a former love, who is now married to a mask-wearing baron. Turns out the baron's face is horribly disfigured and he wishes the surgeon to try and fix it. If he refuses...well, he doesn't want to tick off Baron Sardonicus! A fun Gothic horror film from William Castle. The last of his gimmick films. The gimmick here is that the audience was given cards with a thumbs up or down. When prompted, they would hold them up to decide the fate of the title character. In truth, there was only one ending but Castle knew his audience -- they would only have wanted this to end one way. This is not one of Castle's best movies, though it is enjoyable. The cast is good but the movie lacks a standout presence. I can't help but wonder if Vincent Price in the title role, with his distinct voice and manner, might have helped some. Still, it's a good watch that fans of Castle or classic horror films in general should enjoy. 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
9/10
Fabulous Gothic Horror, with or without gimmick... Coventry 19 July 2012
Boy oh boy, I already was an avid William Castle fan based on all of his work that I've seen thus far (approximately six of his most commonly known achievements), but now I ought to be considered as a downright Castle GROUPIE! "Mr. Sardonicus" is probably my new favorite Castle film, as I absolutely loved the (admittedly grotesque and far-fetched) story, the supreme Gothic ambiance, the charming make- up effects and the wondrously sinister performance by Guy Rolfe. Sir Castle also distinguishes himself as a master story-teller, as the plot slowly and gradually unfolds with a great emphasis on secrecy. It is best that you don't know anything about the plot from beforehand, and then I guarantee you'll be fascinated and increasingly curious regarding the revelations and background of the titular character. Actually, it's too bad that most of the reviews and summaries promptly and blatantly reveal Mr. Sardonicus' horrible secret, because the element of surprise and "shock" are downright terrific if you don't know anything (like I did). The year is 1880 and eminent surgeon Dr. Cargrave suddenly gives up everything when he receives a letter from his former love interest Maude. She's married now and lives in the Eastern European castle of her husband; the 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this reputedly sinister Baron Sardonicus. Maude begs for Dr. Cargrave's help in the letter, and thus he travels to her, only to learn that Sardonicus is indeed a petrifying persona The baron explains Dr. Cargrave about the grisly events that led to him wearing a mask and then immediately blackmails him 8/10 into testing some of his breakthrough medical theories on him. As stated already, the plot is quite grotesque and implausible when you contemplate about it, but first and foremost it's compelling and Ghoul: An evil being who robs graves and feeds on corpses. authentically unsettling. The tale of the lottery ticket is truly inspirational, if you ask me, and it Spikeopath 5 June 2011 automatically provides the film with some profound themes like greed and desecration. These are themes that you don't immediately expect in a movie directed by a showman who became famous Mr. Sardonicus is directed and produced by William Castle and written by Ray Russell. It stars through stuffing his low-budget horror movies with gimmicks and interaction with the public. Speaking Ronald Lewis, Oskar Homolka, Audrey Dalton, Guy Rolfe, Vladimir Sokoloff and Erika Peters. Music of which, "Mr. Sardonicus" only features one gimmick, at the very end, and it's actually the dumbest is by Von Dexter and Burnett Guffey is the cinematographer. and most redundant element of the entire film. This flick stands on itself, without needing the help of any kind of gimmick, thanks to atmosphere and solid scriptwriting. Many sequences, like the nightly Brilliant doctor Sir Robert Cargrave (Lewis) is requested by an old love of his to aid a mysterious trip to the fog-enshrouded cemetery, are sheer highlights of Gothic horror. The titular character Baron masked baron in Gorslava, central Europe. Upon his arrival he finds many strange things, not least Sardonicus is, because of his looks but simply also his nihilistic attitude and vile persona, a monster the baron himself, who has an unbelievable story to tell. Why the mask? Why are there screams in that undoubtedly deserves a high ranking in the list of most villainous cinematic characters in history. the night? Will Cargrave ever leave this eerie place alive? Based on a short story called Sardonicus Guy Rolfe gives away a splendid performance, and also the entire supportive cast is terrific, most that was originally published in Playboy, Mr. Sardonicus was one of the William Castle films that notably Oskar Homolka as the creepy one-eyed servant Krull. Along with "Homicidal", this William came with a gimmick. Here we have "The Punishment Poll", an audience participation idea that saw Castle gem comes with my highest possible recommendation! patrons of the cinema asked by an on screen Castle to hold up a card with either a thumbs up or thumbs down, the result of which would determine if the ghoulish Baron Sardonicus in the films finale should suffer more distress, or not? A complete con of course, I mean what self respecting horror fan 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this isn't going to vote for more nasty stuff? In spite of some shifty bluffs to the contrary by Castle, only one ending to the film was ever shot. 8/10 As it is, on face value, Mr. Sardonicus is one of William Castle's best movies. A genuinely Gothic flavoured horror harking back to the halcyon days of the Universal shockers of the 30's. True, there's Vastly Underrated Castle Film, Worth Watching and Loving mucho cheese in there, but peel the Edam away and film reveals a tale of torture, greed, sadism, gavin6942 21 February 2010 grave robbing and of course facial disfigurement. All set splendidly in some creaky old abode in the belly of Europe. Characters are by the genre numbers; an assistant from the Igor family tree, a pretty London physician Sir Robert Cargrave (Ronald Lewis) has come to visit Baron Sardonicus (Guy Rolfe) damsel in grave danger, a stoic romantic hero type and of course the villain, here played with sly in Gorslava at the request of Maude (Audrey Dalton), the Baron's wife. Sir Robert becomes elegance by the tall and straight backed Guy Rolfe. The latter of which had to undergo numerous apprehensive when his inquiries about Sardonicus are met with fear. When Sir Robert arrives at hours of make up treatment to achieve one of the films best shocks. There's no great depth to it, Castle Sardonicus, his fears are quickly justified: one of his first sights is that of Sadonicus' servant narratively or structurally, and not utilising the talents of Guffey (The Sniper/Scandal Sheet) to low Krull (Oskar Homolka) torturing one of the Baron's servants by placing leeches on her face. light the Sardonicus mansion is nearly unforgivable. But it has a wonderful old fashioned horror value Sardonicus asks Cargrave to help cure him of a terrible condition... will he? to it, some good well worked shriek moments and a fitting finale. A finale worth voting for actually! 7.5/10 Ronald Lewis, a Welsh actor from many other films I've never seen, is a great leading man, and I'm sorry he was not employed more by Castle or other directors. He really pulls off the distinguished doctor character, and it doesn't hurt that he's got that British accent. The Irish Audrey Dalton is likewise very good. And the English Guy Rolfe I believe to be wonderful, but it is hard to tell when he is behind a mask for the bulk of his performance. 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
The film is excellent in its storytelling, and it is not unlike the tales of Poe. Torture, a fiendish creature, a doctor with a special cure... brilliance. And combined with Castle's fun approach, and his injection of himself for the "mercy poll"... a perfect mix. We have to give credit to Ray Russell, who Sardonicus - still remembered 40 years later! first wrote this story and had it published in "Playboy". sue-payne 28 March 2006
You also have to give the film credit for its use of leeches and the term "ghoul". The leeches are just My younger sister and I saw this film when we were children and it terrified us - we still mention nasty and clearly real, making them particularly nasty. And the "ghoul"? The term is defined not once Sardonicus all these years later when looking for a word to describe a shocked reaction. My sister but twice as a creature that robs graves and feasts on corpses... how this plays into the story you'll has just sent me a jokey text message in response to an insult I sent her, saying that she's so just have to watch to see. shocked that her mouth is in a "fixed Sardonicus grimace of shock" - this made me laugh so much I decided to look up info on the film and here I am! While the known Castle films are "13 Ghosts" and "The Tingler", among others, more attention should be paid to "Mr. Sardonicus". It is a wonderful film, beginning to end, and could compete with the Poe The film would seem tame to my own teenage son now, but it has obviously had a lasting affect on stories starring Vincent Price. The only thing missing is star power, and that's not needed here. my sister and me and it would be great to see it again on TV. 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this
5/10
Minor classic from William Castle Craig Burkhart 11 October 2003
This film, for me, marks the beginning of the decline for the great director/promoter William Castle. It is still among his better works overall. After this movie, however, his output becomes less and less interesting, in my opinion. He was the producer for "Rosemary's Baby" but I'm speaking specifically about his work as a director. The film itself deals with a disfigured man who attempted to retrieve something (a lottery ticket) from a grave. The definition of a "ghoul" is given at the beginning and throughout the film as "one who opens graves and feeds on corpses." It features the typical young couple in distress and the evil henchman, played here by Oskar Homolka, who also appeared notably in the early Hitchcock film "Sabotage" with Sylvia Sidney. All Castle films have a sideshow sort of gimmick to hook the audience into paying attention. In this one, it is a "choice" of endings. I won't spoil the end by discussing the choice or the outcome, but it is obviously a promotional attempt by Castle and not the most inventive. He did much better with the shock effects in "The Tingler" and the glasses in the 2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Yes No | Report this original "13 Ghosts." Those were truly classic examples of Castle's showmanship and use of gimmickry. Here, the ruse doesn't work quite as well. t Load More Subsequent Castle films, which used the ultimate modern-day gimmick of putting a star in the movie, weren't as effective. Interestingly, today's films seem to be promoted entirely based on who is involved in the film, as actor, director, etc. So in that sense Castle would continue to point us toward the future of filmmaking. Perhaps with the advent of interactive moviemaking, this film will one day See also also be considered waay ahead of it's time. For now, however, it remains a good but not great entry from a most memorable director and promoter. Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
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