Review for Castle Of The Living Dead

Whilst 'Castle of the Living Dead' proudly opens with its 'Tigon' credentials, it has little in common with the brand, other than the obvious horror association and the inclusion of Christopher Lee, a Bray Studios Hammer stalwart and occasional 'Tigoner'. The film itself has far more in common with (in my view) early silent gothic horror (Murnau's Nosferatu) or the more surreal East European children's stuff like 'The Singing Ringing Tree'.


So is it any good? Well the answer to that is, of course, a resounding yes - and no. Yes for its incredible gothic imagery, masterful composition and lighting and top-notch cast - and no for its plodding narrative and pace, and abominable dubbing.


One thing worth mentioning at the outset is that, unlike the freely available YouTube clips of this on-line, this is a first class transfer of a very good quality print and it looks utterly amazing. Freeze framing at any random moment throughout the duration of the film will elicit a perfectly good still frame, which is always a good sign; perfect in composition and light, with fine detail and strong contrast.

Star of the film, Christopher Lee, was on a veritable roll at the time this film was made, squeezing in several low-effort horrors a year for Hammer and Amicus, and yet still finding the time for this curio, shot between 'The Pirates of Blood River' and 'The Gorgon'.


Funded in the main by the US, but filmed in Italy with a number of Italian actors and crew, its 'Tigon' credits seem to apply only to its distribution in the UK where it was paired with the equally rare 'Terror Creatures from the Grave'.


Though a bit thin, the narrative involves the travails of a travelling troupe of actors and magicians who put on a surreal and macabre show which culminates in a hanging - though it turns out that trickery prevents the victim from dying, much to the delight of their audiences. After performing in a town they are summoned to the Castle of none other than Count Draco (the clue was in the name for god's sake!) to perform a private show in return for a gold coin, quite a sum in the day.


Prior to leaving two things happen in a local bar, changing the structure of the troupe. The first is a spectacular fall out between the leader (Bruno played by Jacques Stany)and his assistant 'Harlequin' (Luciano Pigozzi, often referred to as the Italian Peter Lorre), culminating in a bloody fight. The second is the recruitment of a handsome replacement (army captain Eric who has returned from the war, played by Phillipe Leroy) who has caught the eye of the lone but beautiful female in the group, Laura (Gaia Germani). So off they set, with their faithful dwarf (Nick - Antonio De Martino) at the reins.


On the way, they notice how quiet the forest has become and spot a motionless raven in a tree. On closer inspection they discover that it has become petrified and as solid as a rock. Just as they take hold of it, an old hag / witch appears and prophesies their collective doom, other than the dwarf.


(Despite the lack of teeth and the grotesque make-up, she bears a fleeting resemblance to Donald Sutherland who appeared briefly as a soldier earlier in the movie. But surely that can't be right, can it?).
 
When they arrive at the castle they really ought to know better. The white faced, sunken eyed Count Draco (Lee) and his toothless gaunt side-kick valet Sandro (Mirko Valentin) do not look like your average dinner party hosts. But the troupe don't let them put them off their stride.

Even when Draco insists on discussing the beauty of death and his collection of frozen in time immortals they seem perfectly happy. (Though, to be fair, they don't notice the human displays of this penchant until later).


Draco becomes utterly bewitched by Laura's beauty and it's clear that he intends to use his scientific formula to petrify her in that perfect state forever.

It's all wrapped in a wonderfully surreal, other worldly atmosphere, greatly enhanced by superbly creepy cinematography and an exceptionally eerie score. The weird, often out of synch English dubbing (with Lee at least getting to dub his own voice) just adds to the 'Tales from Europe' feel of the whole package.


Sutherland and Lee performed together just a year later in the Amicus film, "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" and seeing director credits go to Warren Kiefer made me wonder whether Sutherland named his son after the good man. Sutherland spent a great deal of time in the UK and Europe in the sixties, becoming a regular in 60's ITC television shows too before hitting the giddy Hollywood attracting heights of 'Don't Look Now'; another dwarf associated outing for the great man.
The disc comes with a trailer and an essay booklet, though I didn't have sight of that.

It's a welcome release of a very strange movie and is presented in fine fettle. If this sounds lie your bag, then get your order in early.