No spoilers.
Before I begin, let me give you the basic premise of one of my favourite films, "The Abominable Dr. Phibes".
A mad man thought to be dead, played by Vincent Price, is actually alive and well and has decided to exact revenge on nine doctors who he deems to have committed a huge crime. The doctors are all killed in a variety of staggeringly odd and increasingly bizarre ways, Price rigidly following the plagues detailed in the Curse of the Pharoahs. By the fourth death the local police inspector has twigged that there's something strange going on, and susses the link thanks to somebody in the know giving him the details, but it makes little difference in the long run. Oh, and after each death, Price likes to return to his big, theatrical looking house and play loud music.
And now let me give you the basic premise of "Theatre of Blood".
A mad man thought to be dead, played by Vincent Price, is actually alive and well and has decided to exact revenge on nine theatre critics who he deems to have committed a huge crime. The critics are all killed in a variety of staggeringly odd and increasingly bizarre ways, Price rigidly following the deaths detailed by Shakespeare plays he performed in during his last season. By the fourth death the local police inspector has twigged that there's something strange going on, and susses the link thanks to somebody in the know giving him the details, but it makes little difference in the long run. Oh, and after each death, Price likes to return to his big, theatrical looking theatre and quote the Bard.
Ahem.
Despite having a different writer and director, "Theatre of Blood" bears so many similarities to the former horror classic (made only two years earlier) it's untrue! As a result, this review might not be hugely subjective as all the way through I was comparing it to "Dr. Phibes" as I just felt as if I was watching the same film anyway. Now, this wouldn't necessarily have been a bad thing - after all, "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is one of my favourite films, so another version with some different actors in it wouldn't have automatically have got a thumbs-down from me. Unfortunately, "Theatre of Blood" is nowhere near as well plotted nor as funny. Whereas "Dr. Phibes" wowed me with its novel deaths that really stretched the imagination, and some superbly dark humour (as well as having Peter Jeffrey and Terry-Thomas in it), this film just uses gore and bad puns. It's nowhere near as good.
Perhaps it's a backlash against the hype. "Theatre of Blood" seems to be held up as one of the best horror films of all time, a dark masterpiece, so maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe the names of so many top notch comic actors in the cast list - Dennis Price, Arthur Lowe, Robert Morley, Eric Sykes etc. - put me in the wrong mindset. I don't know.
One thing different is that Price's character seems nowhere near as ingenious or cunning. Whereas in the two Phibes films he did most of the work himself, occasionally assisted by one beautiful maiden, here he's got a gang of about twenty tramps and down-and-outs (don't ask) to do his bidding. The deaths themselves are also just plain revolting, and not amusing at all - impalings, suffocations, electrocutions, decapitations etc. - and don't even get any humorous pay offs. In fact, only one death was even remotely amusing, and that wasn't even given to one of the nine critics but to a police sergeant! "I think I can hear a train... Yes, it's definitely a train! T - R - A -" *BANG* Amongst the unpleasantness there's nothing driving the plot forward, and most of the comic talent on display is wasted - Dennis Price is one of the first to get killed and Arthur Lowe gets about four lines and a weary glance. It's surprising how little humour there is, with most of it being left to the two main police inspectors, played marvellously by Milo O'Shea and Eric Sykes, though neither appear as often as they should. "Dr. Phibes" got away with some of its more gruesome deaths by immediately counterbalancing them with scenes of immediate contrast (Phibes dancing to 1920s jazz) or comedy. That only happens once here -
Price: "Officer, officer! I do believe that Mr. Psaltery is murdering his wife!"
Policeman: "Oh. Thank you."
This is the funniest bit in the film. Trust me. Oh go on. I've got nice eyes.
Anyway, I'm afraid I just didn't like this film much, despite its reputation. It's just too gory and too unpleasant, and has little point to exist when there are better films (one in particular) that do exactly the same things but press all the right buttons. Ironic me saying all this really as the film's about an actor killing off people who give him bad reviews. There's satire in there somewhere.
Oh, and if you're still wondering about seeing this film, may I give an additional warning to people who like animals, pies, sleeping, fencing, back massages, going to the theatre, joining dramatics societies and to women who have their hair permed, dyed or generally seen to by a hair stylist. If you fall into one, more, or all of the above categories then this film may give you supreme paranoia and prevent you from wanting to indulge in the above activities or interests ever again.
I warned you.
4/10
Before I begin, let me give you the basic premise of one of my favourite films, "The Abominable Dr. Phibes".
A mad man thought to be dead, played by Vincent Price, is actually alive and well and has decided to exact revenge on nine doctors who he deems to have committed a huge crime. The doctors are all killed in a variety of staggeringly odd and increasingly bizarre ways, Price rigidly following the plagues detailed in the Curse of the Pharoahs. By the fourth death the local police inspector has twigged that there's something strange going on, and susses the link thanks to somebody in the know giving him the details, but it makes little difference in the long run. Oh, and after each death, Price likes to return to his big, theatrical looking house and play loud music.
And now let me give you the basic premise of "Theatre of Blood".
A mad man thought to be dead, played by Vincent Price, is actually alive and well and has decided to exact revenge on nine theatre critics who he deems to have committed a huge crime. The critics are all killed in a variety of staggeringly odd and increasingly bizarre ways, Price rigidly following the deaths detailed by Shakespeare plays he performed in during his last season. By the fourth death the local police inspector has twigged that there's something strange going on, and susses the link thanks to somebody in the know giving him the details, but it makes little difference in the long run. Oh, and after each death, Price likes to return to his big, theatrical looking theatre and quote the Bard.
Ahem.
Despite having a different writer and director, "Theatre of Blood" bears so many similarities to the former horror classic (made only two years earlier) it's untrue! As a result, this review might not be hugely subjective as all the way through I was comparing it to "Dr. Phibes" as I just felt as if I was watching the same film anyway. Now, this wouldn't necessarily have been a bad thing - after all, "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is one of my favourite films, so another version with some different actors in it wouldn't have automatically have got a thumbs-down from me. Unfortunately, "Theatre of Blood" is nowhere near as well plotted nor as funny. Whereas "Dr. Phibes" wowed me with its novel deaths that really stretched the imagination, and some superbly dark humour (as well as having Peter Jeffrey and Terry-Thomas in it), this film just uses gore and bad puns. It's nowhere near as good.
Perhaps it's a backlash against the hype. "Theatre of Blood" seems to be held up as one of the best horror films of all time, a dark masterpiece, so maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe the names of so many top notch comic actors in the cast list - Dennis Price, Arthur Lowe, Robert Morley, Eric Sykes etc. - put me in the wrong mindset. I don't know.
One thing different is that Price's character seems nowhere near as ingenious or cunning. Whereas in the two Phibes films he did most of the work himself, occasionally assisted by one beautiful maiden, here he's got a gang of about twenty tramps and down-and-outs (don't ask) to do his bidding. The deaths themselves are also just plain revolting, and not amusing at all - impalings, suffocations, electrocutions, decapitations etc. - and don't even get any humorous pay offs. In fact, only one death was even remotely amusing, and that wasn't even given to one of the nine critics but to a police sergeant! "I think I can hear a train... Yes, it's definitely a train! T - R - A -" *BANG* Amongst the unpleasantness there's nothing driving the plot forward, and most of the comic talent on display is wasted - Dennis Price is one of the first to get killed and Arthur Lowe gets about four lines and a weary glance. It's surprising how little humour there is, with most of it being left to the two main police inspectors, played marvellously by Milo O'Shea and Eric Sykes, though neither appear as often as they should. "Dr. Phibes" got away with some of its more gruesome deaths by immediately counterbalancing them with scenes of immediate contrast (Phibes dancing to 1920s jazz) or comedy. That only happens once here -
Price: "Officer, officer! I do believe that Mr. Psaltery is murdering his wife!"
Policeman: "Oh. Thank you."
This is the funniest bit in the film. Trust me. Oh go on. I've got nice eyes.
Anyway, I'm afraid I just didn't like this film much, despite its reputation. It's just too gory and too unpleasant, and has little point to exist when there are better films (one in particular) that do exactly the same things but press all the right buttons. Ironic me saying all this really as the film's about an actor killing off people who give him bad reviews. There's satire in there somewhere.
Oh, and if you're still wondering about seeing this film, may I give an additional warning to people who like animals, pies, sleeping, fencing, back massages, going to the theatre, joining dramatics societies and to women who have their hair permed, dyed or generally seen to by a hair stylist. If you fall into one, more, or all of the above categories then this film may give you supreme paranoia and prevent you from wanting to indulge in the above activities or interests ever again.
I warned you.
4/10