Whenever a studio is successful, it inspires knock-offs; of style or of films. And, generally speaking; those knock-offs aren't usually very good. But every now and then one knock-off will find it's own distinctive voice and emerge with somenthing worthy of competing with it's originator. Such was the case with Milton Subotsky's Amicus films. They may not have been able to beat Hammer in their heyday, but in their twilight years they certainly did in quality. While Hammer grinded out repetitious monster flicks with only the occasional gem like the Karnstein trilogy or 'Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde' to show a spark of what once was, Amicus made increasingly intelligent little anthology films; and although overrated by some; this is one of their best.
On some foggy moor in England in a place which more than likely is miles away from the nearest town; Handsome young psychiatrist Dr. Martin(Robert Powell) arrives at the local mental institution which resembles a Gothic castle rather than an institution. Martin expects to get a job after being given a proposition by the Head doctor, B. Starr. unfortunately, the creepy wheelchair bound CURRENT head Doctor; Rutherford(Patrick Magee)tells him that Starr has gone insane and is now one of the patients; and that the only way to get the job is to identify the Doctor.
So our hero and the deceptively benign orderly; Max(Geoffrey Bayldon) begin interviewing four patients with the the same first letter in their names; Bonnie, Bruno, Barbara and Dr. Byron(Herbert Lom) after hearing the first three's stories involving living severed limbs, magic jackets and an imaginary friend; Martin discovers that the seemingly complacent(at first) Dr. Byron is about to turn his visit to the asylum into a REAL horror story...
Although it drags a bit and the twist-ending is so random and messed up(it makes NO sense in the context of ANYTHING) and the stories are all fairly average(each involves somenthing that shouldn't come to life doing just that either literally or figuratively)the film is quite enjoyable, and it's worth seeing for the guest-appearance's by Peter Cushing, Britt Ekland etc. , and given that the fourth segment actually ISN'T a segment; but a continuation of the opening story is either bound to delight you OR infuriate you for not getting four segments; but it's still worth watching for the image of it's clunky, almost cute robot stabbing someone in the neck. Cheers.~
On some foggy moor in England in a place which more than likely is miles away from the nearest town; Handsome young psychiatrist Dr. Martin(Robert Powell) arrives at the local mental institution which resembles a Gothic castle rather than an institution. Martin expects to get a job after being given a proposition by the Head doctor, B. Starr. unfortunately, the creepy wheelchair bound CURRENT head Doctor; Rutherford(Patrick Magee)tells him that Starr has gone insane and is now one of the patients; and that the only way to get the job is to identify the Doctor.
So our hero and the deceptively benign orderly; Max(Geoffrey Bayldon) begin interviewing four patients with the the same first letter in their names; Bonnie, Bruno, Barbara and Dr. Byron(Herbert Lom) after hearing the first three's stories involving living severed limbs, magic jackets and an imaginary friend; Martin discovers that the seemingly complacent(at first) Dr. Byron is about to turn his visit to the asylum into a REAL horror story...
Although it drags a bit and the twist-ending is so random and messed up(it makes NO sense in the context of ANYTHING) and the stories are all fairly average(each involves somenthing that shouldn't come to life doing just that either literally or figuratively)the film is quite enjoyable, and it's worth seeing for the guest-appearance's by Peter Cushing, Britt Ekland etc. , and given that the fourth segment actually ISN'T a segment; but a continuation of the opening story is either bound to delight you OR infuriate you for not getting four segments; but it's still worth watching for the image of it's clunky, almost cute robot stabbing someone in the neck. Cheers.~