There are shades of Arsenic and Old Lace about Tigon studio's The Beast In The Cellar, which sees two spinster sisters (played by Beryl Reid and Flora Robson) hiding a terrible secret in their basement. To protect their brother Stephen (Dafydd Havard) from the horrors of war, they have kept him bricked up in the cellar, keeping him there for thirty years, during which time he has become deranged and violent. Now, with several savage murders occurring in the area, it seems as though Stephen has found a way out of his prison.
Along with Amicus, Tigon was one of the major UK competitors to Hammer. Over the years they gave horror fans such classics as The Blood on Satan's Claw, Witchfinder General and Virgin Witch (OK, that last one might not be such a classic, but I like it). The Beast In The Cellar is at the other end of the spectrum, a dreadfully dull clunker that is way too talky and lacking in scares. Reid (who was 51 at the time, but looks much older) is incredibly irritating as the younger sister, and Robson is given very little to do, their dialogue focusing on such exciting matters as cups of tea and a lack of celery.
The scenes in which the 'beast' attacks local soldiers are shot in a frenzied manner with rapid editing so as to make it impossible to see what is happening. There are blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments of gore, but very little to satisfy most horror fans. At the end of the film, we finally get to see Stephen, supposedly a powerful beast capable of ripping men to pieces with his bare hands, and he looks like Catweazle, about as strong as a week-old kitten.
2.5/10, rounded down to 2 for Reid's prolonged elucidation at the end. Good god, cut to the chase, Beryl!
Along with Amicus, Tigon was one of the major UK competitors to Hammer. Over the years they gave horror fans such classics as The Blood on Satan's Claw, Witchfinder General and Virgin Witch (OK, that last one might not be such a classic, but I like it). The Beast In The Cellar is at the other end of the spectrum, a dreadfully dull clunker that is way too talky and lacking in scares. Reid (who was 51 at the time, but looks much older) is incredibly irritating as the younger sister, and Robson is given very little to do, their dialogue focusing on such exciting matters as cups of tea and a lack of celery.
The scenes in which the 'beast' attacks local soldiers are shot in a frenzied manner with rapid editing so as to make it impossible to see what is happening. There are blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments of gore, but very little to satisfy most horror fans. At the end of the film, we finally get to see Stephen, supposedly a powerful beast capable of ripping men to pieces with his bare hands, and he looks like Catweazle, about as strong as a week-old kitten.
2.5/10, rounded down to 2 for Reid's prolonged elucidation at the end. Good god, cut to the chase, Beryl!