Ordering the very good Horror Noir Cat Girl from Network during their sale,I stumbled upon another British Horror film. Becoming aware of the title after reading a positive review from Kim Newman,and knowing Michael Gough as one of the main character actors from Hammer Horror,I got a ticket for the museum.
The plot:
For the last few weeks someone has been going around killing women in London and the police have no clue who it could be. Being a best selling True Crime writer, Edmond Bancroft pushes into the station and gets details for his next book. Laughing behind their backs, Bancroft falls in love with doing the killings himself,and knowing that there is no chance the cops will catch him (with the bonus that he can included the murder in his next book!) Going to buy his next murder weapon from the antiques shop,Bancroft is taken aback,when the seller asks him what has he been using the objects for.
View on the film:
Including the US " Hypnovista" intro as an extra,Network deliver a sparkling transfer,with the picture retaining its vivid shine,and the soundtrack ringing with crisp screams.
Made when British Gothic Horror was at its peak,the screenplay by Herman Cohen and Aben Kandel breaks the castle walls down with an almighty thump.Taking inspiration from Film Noir,the writers dismantle the English "Gentlemen" cad of British Horror for the scum of the earth,who wallow in darkness as Bancroft pens a new murderous tale.Taking delight in keeping the cops completely out of their depths,the writers axe the flick with a mischievous dark sense of humour, throwing bonkers methods of killing (a bedroom guillotine!)and acid-tongue,spiteful dialogue at the viewer.
Bowing out for the final time,director Arthur Crabtree stakes the most kitsch aspects of the film with a sheer delight.Giving Bancroft his own "Batcave" Crabtree paints Bancroft's novel with the most garish colours possible,grinding in wet blood being dropped on the streets by Gerard Schurmann's roaring score,to Bancroft's lair being soaked in brightly coloured blocks. Curling his lips at every wickedly chewy one liner, Michael Gough gives a raging, bouncing off the wall performances as Bancroft,thanks to Gough knocking his wooden co-stars down with a sly smile which breaks out into shrieks and howls,as the Black Museum closes its doors.
The plot:
For the last few weeks someone has been going around killing women in London and the police have no clue who it could be. Being a best selling True Crime writer, Edmond Bancroft pushes into the station and gets details for his next book. Laughing behind their backs, Bancroft falls in love with doing the killings himself,and knowing that there is no chance the cops will catch him (with the bonus that he can included the murder in his next book!) Going to buy his next murder weapon from the antiques shop,Bancroft is taken aback,when the seller asks him what has he been using the objects for.
View on the film:
Including the US " Hypnovista" intro as an extra,Network deliver a sparkling transfer,with the picture retaining its vivid shine,and the soundtrack ringing with crisp screams.
Made when British Gothic Horror was at its peak,the screenplay by Herman Cohen and Aben Kandel breaks the castle walls down with an almighty thump.Taking inspiration from Film Noir,the writers dismantle the English "Gentlemen" cad of British Horror for the scum of the earth,who wallow in darkness as Bancroft pens a new murderous tale.Taking delight in keeping the cops completely out of their depths,the writers axe the flick with a mischievous dark sense of humour, throwing bonkers methods of killing (a bedroom guillotine!)and acid-tongue,spiteful dialogue at the viewer.
Bowing out for the final time,director Arthur Crabtree stakes the most kitsch aspects of the film with a sheer delight.Giving Bancroft his own "Batcave" Crabtree paints Bancroft's novel with the most garish colours possible,grinding in wet blood being dropped on the streets by Gerard Schurmann's roaring score,to Bancroft's lair being soaked in brightly coloured blocks. Curling his lips at every wickedly chewy one liner, Michael Gough gives a raging, bouncing off the wall performances as Bancroft,thanks to Gough knocking his wooden co-stars down with a sly smile which breaks out into shrieks and howls,as the Black Museum closes its doors.