gridoon2024 Review of Twice-Told Tales

Twice-Told Tales (1963)

A little long-winded, but worthwhile horror anthology

[7/10 · 8 January 2017]

Three-part horror anthology: in the first story, Sebastian Cabot finds what appears to be the elixir of youth, and re-animates his long-dead wife-to-be to boot; some good (for the time) "morphing" effects, and the payoff is both amusing and grim. In the second story (my favorite), Brett Halsey, a university student, falls in love with neighbor beauty Joyce Taylor (who gives a strong, sympathetic performance), but if touches her, he will die! Her father, Vincent Price, has turned her into living poison so that she will never be tempted by "sin". This story is more of a romantic tragedy (ala "Romeo And Juliet") than horror. In the third tale, Vincent Price returns to his (cursed!) ancestral house, determined to find a hidden vault, while his young wife (Beverly Garland, with her exquisite cheekbones) gets weird premonitions, as if someone is trying to communicate with her - from beyond the grave! This story is a little too long and clichéd, but well-done and positively shocking in some spots. Price demonstrates his versatility (playing 3 quite different characters in the same film!), and also provides opening and closing narration for each story, in his inimitable voice. *** out of 4.