Take my word on this
Tower of Evil is a MUST SEE if you're an admirer of raw, vicious and undiscovered horror. This film is so much fun I can't believe I just found out about it now! It's cheap and nasty, but very imaginative and spirited! Tower of Evil is appropriately set on a deserted island, carrying many secrets. After discovering the mutilated corpses of 3 teenagers and one severely traumatized survivor, an expedition team is sent to the island. An older sailor and a young handsome stud, both obviously keeping a few secrets hidden, guide the team. But the members of the expedition are more dealing with sexual intrigues and relational problems anyway. They encounter a savage caveman, severely decomposed human leftovers and authentic hidden treasures! Yay!! Horror with a twitch of adventure! The plot of `Tower of Evil' isn't exactly solid or logical, but director O'Connolly manages to create suspense nonetheless. Due to the isolated and raw location of the Snape Island, you feel trapped there along with the main characters. For the fans of typical 70's horror, there are several gruesome moments to enjoy as well as some ultra-sexy sleaziness. For example, one of the main actresses constantly wears a bikini-top, which ranks as one of the hottest ones since Raquel Welsh's in `One Billion Years B.C.'. `Tower of Evil' is a true gem of the ignored horror vaults and real fans can't afford to miss it!
63 Reviews
In the middle between 60s Hammer and 80s splatter
unbrokenmetal29 September 2002
One of the better low budget horror movies I've watched recently. Although the German alternative title "Turm der lebenden Leichen" ("Tower of the Living Dead") promises zombies, there is no-one returning from the dead here. Well, maybe that's better anyway ;-)
The film tells the story of a bunch of hippies (remember, this was made in the early 70s) who spend a night on a lonely island. All of them are killed except for one girl. Logical thinking leads the police to conclude she must be the murderer then, and they lock her up at the lunatic asylum. Relatives and local fishermen, however, believe there must be someone else - or something else - lurking on the island. They are courageous or stupid enough to start exploring the dark caves in the rocks... The whole set looks really cheap, but apart from that I liked the movie. It is exactly in the middle between old-fashioned 60s Hammer horror and 80s splatter movies, which means there are still traces of gothic atmosphere like the lighthouse in the fog, but already a few effective, vicious shock effects, too.
The film tells the story of a bunch of hippies (remember, this was made in the early 70s) who spend a night on a lonely island. All of them are killed except for one girl. Logical thinking leads the police to conclude she must be the murderer then, and they lock her up at the lunatic asylum. Relatives and local fishermen, however, believe there must be someone else - or something else - lurking on the island. They are courageous or stupid enough to start exploring the dark caves in the rocks... The whole set looks really cheap, but apart from that I liked the movie. It is exactly in the middle between old-fashioned 60s Hammer horror and 80s splatter movies, which means there are still traces of gothic atmosphere like the lighthouse in the fog, but already a few effective, vicious shock effects, too.
Horror-movie with atmosphere
CooperCom1 December 1999
This is a horror-movie with great atmosphere. The film is pretty bloody consider that it have been made in 1972. The effect are cheap, but they have been made with style, and the some of the actors are really great (but not all). The first part of "Tower of Evil" is a bit dull, but the rest of the movie is exciting.
I liked it, but it's not for everybody's taste.
I liked it, but it's not for everybody's taste.
Plot has potential, and opening sequence is very promising, but film fails to capitalise on it.
barnabyrudge19 December 2004
As early 70s horror flicks go, Tower of Evil (a.k.a Horror of Snape Island) has a greater-than-expected amount of sex and gore. Unfortunately, the script is pretty stupid and the performances are generally bad, ruining what might've been a decent little chiller. Some of the lines the actors have to work with are hopelessly silly, and the number of times characters go wandering off alone (even AFTER they've established there's a madman on the loose) beggars belief. What's particularly disappointing is that the plot is just outlandish enough to have made for an unusual and effective horror yarn.
The opening sequence is actually promising. Two sailors, John Gurney (George Coulouris) and his son Hamp (Jack Watson), search around a fog-shrouded island and stumble upon several dismembered naked bodies. Then, John happens across a living naked woman, but she is so startled by his arrival that she mistakenly stabs him. The story moves forward and we learn that the surviving woman from the opening scene has been charged with the murders of her friends, but a private detective named Brent (Bryant Halliday) has been hired by her parents to find out if someone else could've done it. Brent joins an archaeological party who are about to set off to the island in search of a Phoenecian treasure. Once there, the archaeologists soon learn that their lives are in grave danger, as they are picked off one by one by an unknown killer.
Tower of Evil has become a cult film, probably because it's so bad that in some ways it's perversely good. Ther are some attempts at atmosphere and suspense, though most opportunities for a jolt are clumsily edited, lessening the shock factor. In Halliwell's Film Guide, the film was dismissed as "an unoriginal little shocker", but unoriginal is probably the wrong word (how many times have you heard of archaeologists hunting for a Phoenecian hoarde off the English coast and and being victimised by a psycho? Absurd, yes. Unoriginal, no). I can't imagine this film being of particular interest to most viewers, but if you like 70s British horror, or are interested in how sex and gore have evolved over the years in horror cinema, then it may be worth catching.
The opening sequence is actually promising. Two sailors, John Gurney (George Coulouris) and his son Hamp (Jack Watson), search around a fog-shrouded island and stumble upon several dismembered naked bodies. Then, John happens across a living naked woman, but she is so startled by his arrival that she mistakenly stabs him. The story moves forward and we learn that the surviving woman from the opening scene has been charged with the murders of her friends, but a private detective named Brent (Bryant Halliday) has been hired by her parents to find out if someone else could've done it. Brent joins an archaeological party who are about to set off to the island in search of a Phoenecian treasure. Once there, the archaeologists soon learn that their lives are in grave danger, as they are picked off one by one by an unknown killer.
Tower of Evil has become a cult film, probably because it's so bad that in some ways it's perversely good. Ther are some attempts at atmosphere and suspense, though most opportunities for a jolt are clumsily edited, lessening the shock factor. In Halliwell's Film Guide, the film was dismissed as "an unoriginal little shocker", but unoriginal is probably the wrong word (how many times have you heard of archaeologists hunting for a Phoenecian hoarde off the English coast and and being victimised by a psycho? Absurd, yes. Unoriginal, no). I can't imagine this film being of particular interest to most viewers, but if you like 70s British horror, or are interested in how sex and gore have evolved over the years in horror cinema, then it may be worth catching.
Trash classic from exploitation's heyday
Libretio1 February 2005
TOWER OF EVIL
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Mono
Whilst searching for ancient treasure on a lighthouse-island off the British coastline, an archaeological expedition becomes isolated from the mainland and is stalked by a monstrous assassin.
A trash classic from the heyday of British exploitation, TOWER OF EVIL was helmed and written by Jim O'Connolly, a journeyman director whose career peaked several years earlier with THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1968), one of Ray Harryhausen's best films. Thrown together on a microscopic budget, and based on a script by novelist George Baxt (responsible for such memorable British thrillers as CIRCUS OF HORRORS, THE CITY OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE EAGLE), "Tower..." hedges its commercial bets by emphasizing a couple of high profile cameos (Dennis Price and Anthony Valentine) and foregrounding liberal doses of self-conscious nudity and gore. The opening scenes - in which crusty sea dogs Jack Watson and George Coulouris visit the eponymous lighthouse and stumble on a series of mutilated corpses - sets the tone for much of what follows, and while the main cast are pretty colorless, their mutual antagonism (borne from a convoluted history of infidelity) adds much-needed shading to the basic narrative outline.
Mounted on sparse but effective studio sets (designed by THE Italian JOB's Disley Jones), and photographed by veteran cinematographer Desmond Dickinson - a major player in the glory days of British cinema, whose resumé includes everything from Olivier's HAMLET (1948) to THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (1952), HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) and A STUDY IN TERROR (1965) - the film is cheapened at every turn by amateurish dialogue and threadbare visual effects (no attempt is made to disguise back-projected elements during scenes on the 'open sea', for instance), but these cut-price elements have simply contributed to the film's enduring appeal. Besides, the movie makes few pretensions to 'Art', and O'Connolly stages the major set-pieces with real technical savvy, culminating in a 'twist' ending which seems to have inspired a similar plot development in Tom De Simone's superior HELL NIGHT (1981).
The cast is toplined by Bryant Haliday (a favorite of producer Richard Gordon), former Broadway actress Jill Haworth (THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR), Mark Edwards (BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB) and Derek Fowlds (TV's "Yes, Minister"), while the younger players include Robin Askwith (already a movie veteran, long before his appearance in the "Confessions..." films), physique model John Hamill (a familiar face in UK exploitation movies of the 1970's, and later the co-writer of Bob Clark's TURK 182!), Candace Glendenning (SATAN'S SLAVE) and the late Anna Palk (in her last screen appearance), all of whom are featured in various states of undress. The film was originally screened in the US as HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND, and later reissued as BEYOND THE FOG.
NB. Interested viewers should check out Simon Hunter's LIGHTHOUSE (1999) - originally released in the US as DEAD OF NIGHT - an outstanding British shocker which covers the same territory, but to much greater effect.
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Mono
Whilst searching for ancient treasure on a lighthouse-island off the British coastline, an archaeological expedition becomes isolated from the mainland and is stalked by a monstrous assassin.
A trash classic from the heyday of British exploitation, TOWER OF EVIL was helmed and written by Jim O'Connolly, a journeyman director whose career peaked several years earlier with THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1968), one of Ray Harryhausen's best films. Thrown together on a microscopic budget, and based on a script by novelist George Baxt (responsible for such memorable British thrillers as CIRCUS OF HORRORS, THE CITY OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE EAGLE), "Tower..." hedges its commercial bets by emphasizing a couple of high profile cameos (Dennis Price and Anthony Valentine) and foregrounding liberal doses of self-conscious nudity and gore. The opening scenes - in which crusty sea dogs Jack Watson and George Coulouris visit the eponymous lighthouse and stumble on a series of mutilated corpses - sets the tone for much of what follows, and while the main cast are pretty colorless, their mutual antagonism (borne from a convoluted history of infidelity) adds much-needed shading to the basic narrative outline.
Mounted on sparse but effective studio sets (designed by THE Italian JOB's Disley Jones), and photographed by veteran cinematographer Desmond Dickinson - a major player in the glory days of British cinema, whose resumé includes everything from Olivier's HAMLET (1948) to THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (1952), HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) and A STUDY IN TERROR (1965) - the film is cheapened at every turn by amateurish dialogue and threadbare visual effects (no attempt is made to disguise back-projected elements during scenes on the 'open sea', for instance), but these cut-price elements have simply contributed to the film's enduring appeal. Besides, the movie makes few pretensions to 'Art', and O'Connolly stages the major set-pieces with real technical savvy, culminating in a 'twist' ending which seems to have inspired a similar plot development in Tom De Simone's superior HELL NIGHT (1981).
The cast is toplined by Bryant Haliday (a favorite of producer Richard Gordon), former Broadway actress Jill Haworth (THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR), Mark Edwards (BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB) and Derek Fowlds (TV's "Yes, Minister"), while the younger players include Robin Askwith (already a movie veteran, long before his appearance in the "Confessions..." films), physique model John Hamill (a familiar face in UK exploitation movies of the 1970's, and later the co-writer of Bob Clark's TURK 182!), Candace Glendenning (SATAN'S SLAVE) and the late Anna Palk (in her last screen appearance), all of whom are featured in various states of undress. The film was originally screened in the US as HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND, and later reissued as BEYOND THE FOG.
NB. Interested viewers should check out Simon Hunter's LIGHTHOUSE (1999) - originally released in the US as DEAD OF NIGHT - an outstanding British shocker which covers the same territory, but to much greater effect.
Lighthouse Of Doom...
azathothpwiggins7 September 2020
It's flower power in the tower, as four swingin' hippies land on Snape island in order to get their groove on. Oh no! All mellows are harshed as a mad killer arises to bum their collective trip.
Later, a team of archaeologists arrives on the scene. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery massacre, or will they too be slaughtered by the hideous, giggling inhabitant of Snape island?
TOWER OF EVIL is a magnificent opus of longhairs, murder, and gratuitous nudity. Co-stars Brian Jones / Mick Jagger hybrid, Robin Askwith as Des. A delirious delight...
Later, a team of archaeologists arrives on the scene. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery massacre, or will they too be slaughtered by the hideous, giggling inhabitant of Snape island?
TOWER OF EVIL is a magnificent opus of longhairs, murder, and gratuitous nudity. Co-stars Brian Jones / Mick Jagger hybrid, Robin Askwith as Des. A delirious delight...
The Tower of Zzzzzzzz....
The_Void23 January 2006
I have heard that Tower of Evil is one of the films responsible for the decline of the British film industry in the 1970's; and while I don't know if this is true or not - having seen it, I can say that there's a good chance it is true. The fact that this film is such a mess is made more disappointing by the fact that it features a good basis for a horror film. We follow a group of Archaeologists who go off to a remote island to find buried treasure. Their trip is set to be anything but pleasurable, however, as it turns out that there's a deformed killer stalking the underground cave system. Nudity and gore feature prominently (especially considering the time of release), yet it's all rather dull. Tower of Evil features a deep, dark void where all the intrigue should be; and the characters aren't any better. We are forced to watch a bunch of promiscuous stoners lumbering about the poorly designed sets, and despite the fact that this is supposed to be brainless 'fun'; staying awake soon becomes a major problem.
I make a habit of seeing obscure horror films, and usually this turns out to be a fruitful endeavour, which makes films like this even more of a nuisance. It's unoriginal, it's dull and although most films like this aren't life-affirming experiences; this one doesn't even manage to lampoon the 'fun' element that most B-movies get right on. Director Jim O'Connolly directs his cast of unknowns lethargically, who in turn repay this by acting lethargically. Nobody on the cast list stands out, and despite the mention of Dennis Price as a 'guest star', nobody manages to elevate this above the nonsense that it clearly is. The atmosphere is the one saving grace. Despite its obvious shoestring budget, Tower of Evil presents it's central location nicely, which always bodes well in a horror film; even a very tatty one such as this. Regarding this film, I would say that it's only worth seeing if you absolutely must see every seventies horror film ever made. If you're happy to miss a few, then I recommend making this one of them. Nudity and gore aside; this is one shoddy movie.
I make a habit of seeing obscure horror films, and usually this turns out to be a fruitful endeavour, which makes films like this even more of a nuisance. It's unoriginal, it's dull and although most films like this aren't life-affirming experiences; this one doesn't even manage to lampoon the 'fun' element that most B-movies get right on. Director Jim O'Connolly directs his cast of unknowns lethargically, who in turn repay this by acting lethargically. Nobody on the cast list stands out, and despite the mention of Dennis Price as a 'guest star', nobody manages to elevate this above the nonsense that it clearly is. The atmosphere is the one saving grace. Despite its obvious shoestring budget, Tower of Evil presents it's central location nicely, which always bodes well in a horror film; even a very tatty one such as this. Regarding this film, I would say that it's only worth seeing if you absolutely must see every seventies horror film ever made. If you're happy to miss a few, then I recommend making this one of them. Nudity and gore aside; this is one shoddy movie.
First rate, B-grade sexy Chiller slash Thriller. A Must See for 70's horror fans
ApolloBoy10928 April 2006
Sexy vintage British horror tale packed with traditional atmospheric fog, shades of Gothic and hot young flesh. From the firm buttocks of the hunky men to the smooth perky breasts of the women, this film exploits the 70's free love era.
Three interconnected tales revolve around an old lighthouse island purported to be closed but hiding deep secrets. They are . . .
First: A man, his wife and their child escape the near by village to live in isolation. Something happens. Second: Free spirited young Americans who are for the most part naked during their flashback sequences, and we're all happy about that, visit the island for a little hot sex and weed. Surely this movie was made by content bisexuals because both sexes bare enough flesh to make your engine hum. Someone murders three of the hot and horny kids (while they're all naked). Third: A research team is sent to the island because one of the boys was murdered with an antique sword only found in southern Europe. The sword it appears belongs to a cult that worships the God of Orgies, lust and firm male butts. The team is comprised of four young hot archaeologists, and two locals, one in particular is a hungry stud (Gary Hamilton) who is by far the best looking 70's hunk I've ever seen naked on screen. There's a lot of "whose been sleeping in my bed" antics before the truth about the island is uncovered.
The underground worship chamber is by far the funniest horror set I have ever seen.
All in all for film history's sake and a nice slice of 70's nudity mixed with chills and thrills, this is the best of it's kind.
Did I mention hot men and sweet women are starked naked most of the time?
Catch it!
Three interconnected tales revolve around an old lighthouse island purported to be closed but hiding deep secrets. They are . . .
First: A man, his wife and their child escape the near by village to live in isolation. Something happens. Second: Free spirited young Americans who are for the most part naked during their flashback sequences, and we're all happy about that, visit the island for a little hot sex and weed. Surely this movie was made by content bisexuals because both sexes bare enough flesh to make your engine hum. Someone murders three of the hot and horny kids (while they're all naked). Third: A research team is sent to the island because one of the boys was murdered with an antique sword only found in southern Europe. The sword it appears belongs to a cult that worships the God of Orgies, lust and firm male butts. The team is comprised of four young hot archaeologists, and two locals, one in particular is a hungry stud (Gary Hamilton) who is by far the best looking 70's hunk I've ever seen naked on screen. There's a lot of "whose been sleeping in my bed" antics before the truth about the island is uncovered.
The underground worship chamber is by far the funniest horror set I have ever seen.
All in all for film history's sake and a nice slice of 70's nudity mixed with chills and thrills, this is the best of it's kind.
Did I mention hot men and sweet women are starked naked most of the time?
Catch it!
Gory. Pointless.
gridoon15 July 2003
What could be scarier than a deformed, crazy killer lurking in the underground caves of a foggy deserted isle, picking off a group of people (who went there to search for some old treasure) one by one? Theoretically, this sounds like a great recipe for horror. And yet, despite the fact that this film is VERY explicit in terms of gore and nudity (male and female) for an early-70's release, it is visually sub-par, and because it doesn't have a single even remotely interesting character (the women are portrayed as promiscuous sluts), the viewer has nothing to do but sit there and wait for most of the cast members to get chopped up. In a word, boring. (**)
Welcome to the lighthouse of terror
chris_gaskin1234 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I've just seen Tower of Evil for the first time and found it rather scary in parts. I enjoyed watching this, despite reading bad reviews about it.
A group of young Americans drop off at a deserted lighthouse to spend the night there but all but one of them are bumped off, the survivor being a girl who kills a sailor, thinking he was the murderer. After she is rescued, another group go to stay there to see what really happened and is isn't long before killings start. We discover the killer to be a man who didn't get over the death of his wife and became a recluse on the island and as a result, he has mutated. He is killed at the end but his even more mutated son then appears, kills a man and the whole place then burns down.
Tower of Evil is British made and is rather scary once on the island, where most of the scenes are shot in the dark.
Quite a few familiar stars are in the cast: Bryant Haliday (The Projected Man, Devil Doll), Robin Askworth (Horror Hospital, Confessions of a Window Cleaner), Dennis Price (Twins of Evil, The Earth Dies Screaming), Derek Fowlds (Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat), Anthony Valentine (To the Devil a Daughter), George Coulouris (Citizen Kane) and Jill Haworth.
If you are a fan of 1970's horror, this is for you. Quite creepy.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5.
A group of young Americans drop off at a deserted lighthouse to spend the night there but all but one of them are bumped off, the survivor being a girl who kills a sailor, thinking he was the murderer. After she is rescued, another group go to stay there to see what really happened and is isn't long before killings start. We discover the killer to be a man who didn't get over the death of his wife and became a recluse on the island and as a result, he has mutated. He is killed at the end but his even more mutated son then appears, kills a man and the whole place then burns down.
Tower of Evil is British made and is rather scary once on the island, where most of the scenes are shot in the dark.
Quite a few familiar stars are in the cast: Bryant Haliday (The Projected Man, Devil Doll), Robin Askworth (Horror Hospital, Confessions of a Window Cleaner), Dennis Price (Twins of Evil, The Earth Dies Screaming), Derek Fowlds (Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat), Anthony Valentine (To the Devil a Daughter), George Coulouris (Citizen Kane) and Jill Haworth.
If you are a fan of 1970's horror, this is for you. Quite creepy.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5.
I probably should have listened to the Maltin guide.
planktonrules21 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
In "Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide", he gives this film a savage review and in hindsight I probably should have listened to him, as this is a portion of my life I probably wasted. That's because this is a perfectly dreadful film in just about every way--particularly in how the characters were written. Heck, my cats could probably write better characters and dialog! I was also quite surprised as I watched the film, as it had a very significant amount of nudity and sexual content. That surprise was because it was shown on Turner Classic Movies--a channel that rarely has nudity but even when it does, there's far less than in this film. Oddly, the nudity made little sense because the film was set on an island in Britain (and you DON'T want to run around naked there--especially at night--it's just too cold!). Also oddly because if you DO want a soft-core pornographic movie, you should certainly hire better looking ladies. I didn't want to see a skin flick but couldn't see why these flat-chested and mediocre ladies were chosen. As I said, I don't usually watch films with this much skin in it but for those who want this in a film, you'll be pretty disappointed--though the men seemed a bit more photogenic in this regard.
As for the plot, it was pretty stupid but had possibilities. The problem wasn't just than having Phoenicians and the pagan god Baal in the UK was silly but the characters were just pathetic. Here's the story in a truncated form. 3 of 4 young nudists are murdered and the 4th kills one of the rescuers. They aren't sure if she was the one who murdered the others or if she just panicked and killed the rescuer because of her mental condition following the massacre of her scantily-clad friends.
A psychiatrist uses a form of shock therapy (using chemicals and goofy lights) to get this survivor to tell her story, as once she's in custody, she'd become catatonic. The folks are able to learn that she believed they were attacked--but by what they still don't know. What I would like to know, though, is how this lady not only knew what she and her boyfriend were doing (this mostly involved getting naked and her saying 'she wasn't THAT kind of girl' when he later wanted to have sex?!?) but she also detailed what the other couple was doing on another part of the island at the same time!! While they still don't know what happened, an 'expert' announces that one of the victims was impaled with a Phoenician sword associated with funerals and Baal worship and they MUST search the island for treasure. Oddly, no one in the group that then heads back to the island appears to be an archaeologist or anthropologist--just a motley crew of adventurers who look nothing like the sort to investigate--particularly the slutty lady whose only interest in life is sex. Why they would bring this nympho along is beyond me, but the others, too, seem completely out of place. There's no 'Indiana Jones' here--or anyone remotely like him. Also, while this makes no sense, what makes even less sense is why such a small group goes there--and they have no backup plan! Think about it--a group was slaughtered there and they aren't sure who did it. The mass murderer might still be on the island waiting but they don't even consider the possibility or bring weapons or a cop!!! But, fortunately, they did bring a horny lady who talks incessantly about sex and who lifts her skirt at the first available moment on an island where mass murder just occurred!! I could try to say more about the plot or the rest of the idiot characters, but frankly it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
So, what we have is a dumb plot, horrible characters who make no sense and who are dumber than eels and lots of nudity featuring not especially attractive people. Need I say more?! This is just a terrible film and I can see almost nothing interesting to say about this low-budget bucket of bile. It only manages a 2 because at least, on rare occasions, it does offer a few decent chills (aside from those experienced by the nudists at the beginning of the film).
Oh, and by the way, this isn't a huge plot problem because they guy was not supposed to be a forensics expert, but at the beginning when the two men discover the massacre, one says to the other "how long have they been dead?". The other guy says "...about a week"--even though the bodies showed no evidence of critters nibbling on the corpses, putrification or discoloration at all and there was fresh blood all about the bodies. Maybe this man's not an expert, but he apparently was an idiot--especially since this moron returns to the island later in the film!
As for the plot, it was pretty stupid but had possibilities. The problem wasn't just than having Phoenicians and the pagan god Baal in the UK was silly but the characters were just pathetic. Here's the story in a truncated form. 3 of 4 young nudists are murdered and the 4th kills one of the rescuers. They aren't sure if she was the one who murdered the others or if she just panicked and killed the rescuer because of her mental condition following the massacre of her scantily-clad friends.
A psychiatrist uses a form of shock therapy (using chemicals and goofy lights) to get this survivor to tell her story, as once she's in custody, she'd become catatonic. The folks are able to learn that she believed they were attacked--but by what they still don't know. What I would like to know, though, is how this lady not only knew what she and her boyfriend were doing (this mostly involved getting naked and her saying 'she wasn't THAT kind of girl' when he later wanted to have sex?!?) but she also detailed what the other couple was doing on another part of the island at the same time!! While they still don't know what happened, an 'expert' announces that one of the victims was impaled with a Phoenician sword associated with funerals and Baal worship and they MUST search the island for treasure. Oddly, no one in the group that then heads back to the island appears to be an archaeologist or anthropologist--just a motley crew of adventurers who look nothing like the sort to investigate--particularly the slutty lady whose only interest in life is sex. Why they would bring this nympho along is beyond me, but the others, too, seem completely out of place. There's no 'Indiana Jones' here--or anyone remotely like him. Also, while this makes no sense, what makes even less sense is why such a small group goes there--and they have no backup plan! Think about it--a group was slaughtered there and they aren't sure who did it. The mass murderer might still be on the island waiting but they don't even consider the possibility or bring weapons or a cop!!! But, fortunately, they did bring a horny lady who talks incessantly about sex and who lifts her skirt at the first available moment on an island where mass murder just occurred!! I could try to say more about the plot or the rest of the idiot characters, but frankly it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
So, what we have is a dumb plot, horrible characters who make no sense and who are dumber than eels and lots of nudity featuring not especially attractive people. Need I say more?! This is just a terrible film and I can see almost nothing interesting to say about this low-budget bucket of bile. It only manages a 2 because at least, on rare occasions, it does offer a few decent chills (aside from those experienced by the nudists at the beginning of the film).
Oh, and by the way, this isn't a huge plot problem because they guy was not supposed to be a forensics expert, but at the beginning when the two men discover the massacre, one says to the other "how long have they been dead?". The other guy says "...about a week"--even though the bodies showed no evidence of critters nibbling on the corpses, putrification or discoloration at all and there was fresh blood all about the bodies. Maybe this man's not an expert, but he apparently was an idiot--especially since this moron returns to the island later in the film!
Old school Gothic horror collides with modern slasher!
Nightman8518 December 2008
Folks investigating a strange series of murders on a tiny island are being attacked and killed by an unseen presence.
This moody British horror film was made several years before the "stalk 'n' slash" genre kicked off, yet this atmospheric chiller possesses a number of elements that would later become popular in the modern horror genre. At the same time it has the sense of an old Gothic horror film as well, with its gloomy atmosphere and dark setting. The story may be simple but it combines enough scenes of shocking violence, creeping suspense, and steamy sex to keep one engaged throughout. A little campy, yes, but it only adds more to the fun of this guilty pleasure.
The cast is adequate, highlighted by such veteran actors as Bryant Haliday, Jill Haworth, and Mark Edwards. In addition the gore effects are also well done and provide for some effectively chilling scenes.
For fans of the slasher genre or 70's horror in general, Tower of Evil is an enjoyably eerie trip!
*** out of ****
This moody British horror film was made several years before the "stalk 'n' slash" genre kicked off, yet this atmospheric chiller possesses a number of elements that would later become popular in the modern horror genre. At the same time it has the sense of an old Gothic horror film as well, with its gloomy atmosphere and dark setting. The story may be simple but it combines enough scenes of shocking violence, creeping suspense, and steamy sex to keep one engaged throughout. A little campy, yes, but it only adds more to the fun of this guilty pleasure.
The cast is adequate, highlighted by such veteran actors as Bryant Haliday, Jill Haworth, and Mark Edwards. In addition the gore effects are also well done and provide for some effectively chilling scenes.
For fans of the slasher genre or 70's horror in general, Tower of Evil is an enjoyably eerie trip!
*** out of ****
Trash classic of the early 1970s
Leofwine_draca16 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This effective shocker from the early '70s is well worth watching. The beginning is excellent, with the discovery of the dead naked people - check out the head rolling down the stairs - and also very graphic for its time, both in the portrayal of sex and gore (something to be expected, seeing as this is a '70s film where moral principles were quickly disappearing down the drain). It's certainly an arresting way to begin a film.
The somewhat clichéd story is enlivened by the presence of popular actors - Dennis Price and Anthony Valentine appear in small roles, as well as Bryant Halliday (Halliday appeared in a couple of horror films during the '60s, THE DEVIL DOLL and THE PROJECTED MAN). Robin Askwith, who made a name for himself with a number of sex films in the 1970s, appears in a typical role - taking his clothes off and acting badly once again.
There are a number of effective shocks, such as the decaying corpse and the giggling, manic laughter. While some parts are enjoyably cheesy now, you won't be disappointed if you see this under-rated chiller which plays a bit like a slasher film, with teenagers being killed in violent ways. If this seventies schlock isn't your cup of tea, then "go dig" something else. While the monster may not be very scary (let's face it, it's a dirty bloke covered in hair and dandruff) the spooky giggling is sure to send a chill down anyone's spine!
The somewhat clichéd story is enlivened by the presence of popular actors - Dennis Price and Anthony Valentine appear in small roles, as well as Bryant Halliday (Halliday appeared in a couple of horror films during the '60s, THE DEVIL DOLL and THE PROJECTED MAN). Robin Askwith, who made a name for himself with a number of sex films in the 1970s, appears in a typical role - taking his clothes off and acting badly once again.
There are a number of effective shocks, such as the decaying corpse and the giggling, manic laughter. While some parts are enjoyably cheesy now, you won't be disappointed if you see this under-rated chiller which plays a bit like a slasher film, with teenagers being killed in violent ways. If this seventies schlock isn't your cup of tea, then "go dig" something else. While the monster may not be very scary (let's face it, it's a dirty bloke covered in hair and dandruff) the spooky giggling is sure to send a chill down anyone's spine!
Spoilers follow ...
parry_na13 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
As evil towers go, the one featured in this film certainly earns its stripes in the opening scene. Stabbings, spiders, dismemberment, naked corpses and lots of blood ensure our attention is immediately grabbed.
So too are the familiar faces for the time – Anthony Valentine, William Lucas, Derek Fowlds and Dennis Price head a superficially impressive cast. Superficial, because the younger characters, the 'kids' are neither so well-known nor as compelling. Wrestling with dialogue that makes the excesses of 'Dracula AD 1972' positively conservative, these kids are a dull, casually randy bunch (the cod American accents don't help). The females are especially tiresome – as part of a group sent to investigate grisly murders on Snape Island, they are only ever concerned with the sexual failure of their partners and the affairs they plan to have. Who thought Free Love could be so spite-fuelled? One reason why the opening sequence is effective is because the island, and the waters surrounding it, are swathed in foggy darkness. Exposed to 'daylight', the cheapness of the sets and back-projection becomes hugely apparent. A cut-price film is no bad thing, but when the characterisations and plot is equally threadbare, attention falls away pretty quickly, despite the cackling killer-on-the-loose.
The frank attitude to sex is surprising for a British 1972 film. The feeling I get is that Director Jim O'Connolly over-spiced the dialogue with references to sex and drugs in a bid to compensate for the lacklustre budget and plot. Despite an effectively fiery ending and the reveal of a secondary killer, the 90 minutes running time seems a lot longer.
So too are the familiar faces for the time – Anthony Valentine, William Lucas, Derek Fowlds and Dennis Price head a superficially impressive cast. Superficial, because the younger characters, the 'kids' are neither so well-known nor as compelling. Wrestling with dialogue that makes the excesses of 'Dracula AD 1972' positively conservative, these kids are a dull, casually randy bunch (the cod American accents don't help). The females are especially tiresome – as part of a group sent to investigate grisly murders on Snape Island, they are only ever concerned with the sexual failure of their partners and the affairs they plan to have. Who thought Free Love could be so spite-fuelled? One reason why the opening sequence is effective is because the island, and the waters surrounding it, are swathed in foggy darkness. Exposed to 'daylight', the cheapness of the sets and back-projection becomes hugely apparent. A cut-price film is no bad thing, but when the characterisations and plot is equally threadbare, attention falls away pretty quickly, despite the cackling killer-on-the-loose.
The frank attitude to sex is surprising for a British 1972 film. The feeling I get is that Director Jim O'Connolly over-spiced the dialogue with references to sex and drugs in a bid to compensate for the lacklustre budget and plot. Despite an effectively fiery ending and the reveal of a secondary killer, the 90 minutes running time seems a lot longer.
A bloody rollercoaster ride
ehoshaw25 May 2000
To me, this seemed like a bloody episode of Scooby Doo-really! It has funky swinging 70s styles, spooky, misty locations, and lots of plot twists. But, the flick is also loaded with gory murders done with a funky type machete. Three teens are found hacked up on Snape Island. Did their friend Penny do it, or did someone else? Some people go to explore the quiet, mysterious island only to be stalked and chopped up one by one. Really scary and sick, with some great surprises. Jill Haworth and Anna Palk are good-looking chicks, and the murderer in this movie was genuinely frightening. Despite cruddy picture and ok sound, this is a definite winner. Too bad I don't own the DVD yet. I only own one of the old video versions. Just hunt this movie down, and see it!
Atmospheric, but forgettable Hammer Horror-ish tale
a_chinn5 March 2018
I'm writing this review a couple weeks after having watched the film and I can barely remember it. However, IMDB refreshed my memory and it was about a group of archeologists uncovering an ancient and cursed treasure underneath the titular tower. The film was more gruesome than I was expecting and had a decent amount of atmosphere given it's meager budget, but the story and characters were all pretty dull which really drug the film down. Okay viewing for people wanting something along the lines of a lesser Hammer Horror film.
Twisted Phoenician mysteries , thrills , suspense and being compellingly directed
ma-cortes2 October 2021
Decent horror movie with chills , thrills , ghastly happenings and naive special effects and nowadays , considered to be an underground classic. The movie opens with a boat cruising throughout heavy fog , at a creepy night . The boat lands on the rocky island Snape and two older seaman go on shore . Soon after , they encounter a severed hand and others gory evidences . After that , they see a male body it was attached too , then they decide to go into the mysterious lighthouse to investigate . Sure enough , they find a female corpse and anything else . They split up and find another killed body . Then they meet a live , young woman , Penny (Candace Glendenning) , hiding in a closet and in state of shock ; she subsequently , stabs her saviours . Next , traumatized to an extreme Penny is being examined by a a team of Doctors who talk about her. Disturbing Penny starts to talk and remember how her and friends arrive in Snape Island , as a night of pleasure became a night of terror. And then she begins screaming as the flashbacks unsettling her . After hearing about this , a group of scientists decide to venture to the Island. They also know that the Island is loaded with gold and Phoenician treasures . Eventually, the team of seven ventures out to sea to investigate the Island, on the Sea Ghost . The group is formed by two women (Jill Haworth , Anna Palk) and four other men (Bryant Haliday , Mark Edwards, Gary Hamilton , Jack Watson) , they are the boat crew . One way in, no way out . They came, they saw, they died!
This chilling terror movie contains heart-pounding horror , suspense, thrills , chills , nudism and lots of blood and gore . Dealing with an old and mystic Phoenician treasure , that's why various characters arrive in a mysterious island , there they attempt to find out what happened , being submitted to extremely brutal attacks and enhanced by means of mind-blowing , terrifying frames . The spooky images are wide-ranging , including as follows : disfigured people , severed heads , slashing , beheading , among others . The picture based on George Baxt's original story takes accent on tension by means of a well-knit script full of twists , turns and an unexpected final . It packs eerie images-shock , slick edition and nail-biting pace . It displays some surprising images , colorful scenarios and foggy atmosphere that seem to be influenced in the successful John Carpenter's hit horror film The Fog (1980). Despite being dismissed critically and really panned by reviewers when it was firstly released , the flick has since gone on to get itself a reputation as a terror cult movie .
Here stands out the gorgeous and brilliant cinematography by Desmond Dickinson . As well as thrilling and suspenseful by Kenneth V. Jones . The motion picture was professionally written and directed Jim O'Connolly and filmed over a 30 day period . Resulting in an acceptable yarn , though originally released in Britain on a double bill with another one . Director Jim O'Connolly was a fine producer , production manager, and filmmaker , known for The Traitors (1962), Mistress Pamela (1973) and Smokescreen (1964) . His greatest successes were Berserk (1967) and Valley of Gwangi (1969) . Rating : 6/10 , worthwhile seeing .
This chilling terror movie contains heart-pounding horror , suspense, thrills , chills , nudism and lots of blood and gore . Dealing with an old and mystic Phoenician treasure , that's why various characters arrive in a mysterious island , there they attempt to find out what happened , being submitted to extremely brutal attacks and enhanced by means of mind-blowing , terrifying frames . The spooky images are wide-ranging , including as follows : disfigured people , severed heads , slashing , beheading , among others . The picture based on George Baxt's original story takes accent on tension by means of a well-knit script full of twists , turns and an unexpected final . It packs eerie images-shock , slick edition and nail-biting pace . It displays some surprising images , colorful scenarios and foggy atmosphere that seem to be influenced in the successful John Carpenter's hit horror film The Fog (1980). Despite being dismissed critically and really panned by reviewers when it was firstly released , the flick has since gone on to get itself a reputation as a terror cult movie .
Here stands out the gorgeous and brilliant cinematography by Desmond Dickinson . As well as thrilling and suspenseful by Kenneth V. Jones . The motion picture was professionally written and directed Jim O'Connolly and filmed over a 30 day period . Resulting in an acceptable yarn , though originally released in Britain on a double bill with another one . Director Jim O'Connolly was a fine producer , production manager, and filmmaker , known for The Traitors (1962), Mistress Pamela (1973) and Smokescreen (1964) . His greatest successes were Berserk (1967) and Valley of Gwangi (1969) . Rating : 6/10 , worthwhile seeing .
Tower of Banal
JoeB13111 November 2012
Warning: Spoilers
This movie is somewhere between a slasher flick and a Hammer Horror movie.
The plot is that some dead teens are found on an Island, and are followed up by some museum people looking for a lost treasure of an ancient idol of Baal. The whole Baal subplot is silly and doesn't really belong there, other than a device to get people on the island to be picked off by a rather pathetic killer.
There is copious amounts of nudity and sex scenes you'd never see today because we are all too stuffy about that sort of thing.The makeup is cheap, and when you get to the money shot at the end where the monster is revealed, he looks just kind of silly.
The plot is that some dead teens are found on an Island, and are followed up by some museum people looking for a lost treasure of an ancient idol of Baal. The whole Baal subplot is silly and doesn't really belong there, other than a device to get people on the island to be picked off by a rather pathetic killer.
There is copious amounts of nudity and sex scenes you'd never see today because we are all too stuffy about that sort of thing.The makeup is cheap, and when you get to the money shot at the end where the monster is revealed, he looks just kind of silly.
Lotsa nudity,lotsa violence,lotsa nudity
evilskip8 October 1999
Pretty creepy opening shot of a fog shrouded lighthouse on a rocky island lets you know there are some thrills on the way.This is a little ahead of its time as far as the old hat "have sex and die" plotline goes. The movie starts off with 4 frolicking nude teenagers on a supposedly deserted island(Snape Island). Well quite a few end up beheaded,sliced and diced as they aren't as alone as they thought.
A private investigator joins a museum group to Snape Island.They are looking for Phoenecian treasure.He wants to clear the name of the only survivor of the massacre.The two avenues for the trip eventually tie into each other.But not before a few more brutal murders spices up the pot.
What is bad about this flick:Well the horny teenagers are basically cannon fodder for the killer(or is it killers).They do serve their purpose in getting the PI there.Some of the acting really bites but the older hands do well with their material.The hip 70's slang really is a giggle."Do you want to turn on?"one dope smoking character asks. Something about the island sure makes a lot of folks horny.Yeah, it is cold, rainy,foggy and rocky. Big crabs are scrambling all over the place. Hey, let's get naked!There seems to be an over abundance of flammable paraffin on the island.Say about three acres worth but it sure burns up pretty.
The sets are creepy enough,especially the light house and the island itself.Many nasty looking corpses with crabs skittering around(hey get the butter!)on them are unnerving.There is a real overwhelming sense of claustrophobia to this movie.A slice & dice above average.Give it a 6.
A private investigator joins a museum group to Snape Island.They are looking for Phoenecian treasure.He wants to clear the name of the only survivor of the massacre.The two avenues for the trip eventually tie into each other.But not before a few more brutal murders spices up the pot.
What is bad about this flick:Well the horny teenagers are basically cannon fodder for the killer(or is it killers).They do serve their purpose in getting the PI there.Some of the acting really bites but the older hands do well with their material.The hip 70's slang really is a giggle."Do you want to turn on?"one dope smoking character asks. Something about the island sure makes a lot of folks horny.Yeah, it is cold, rainy,foggy and rocky. Big crabs are scrambling all over the place. Hey, let's get naked!There seems to be an over abundance of flammable paraffin on the island.Say about three acres worth but it sure burns up pretty.
The sets are creepy enough,especially the light house and the island itself.Many nasty looking corpses with crabs skittering around(hey get the butter!)on them are unnerving.There is a real overwhelming sense of claustrophobia to this movie.A slice & dice above average.Give it a 6.
An exercise in poor writing
BloodTheTelepathicDog10 September 2008
You can count the number of truly talented screenwriters at work over the years on two hands - and that might be pushing it. I love Gothic horror films from the 1960's and '70's, therefore I enjoyed this film but couldn't dismiss the quality of the script. The dialogue was poor but the most glaring deficiency in the script was the absence of tension building. Granted, there was some tension being built in the film, but the writer should have used Penny's character, in a flashback sequence, at the climax to better build the tension. Instead, Penny was forgotten.
To fill you in on the plot, and who this Penny lady is I am referring to, I shall start from the beginning. The film opens with two sailors searching an island. They stumble upon three corpses of young Americans (British actors portraying Americans that is) before they meet up with Penny (Candace Glendenning). Penny is so visibly shaken, she kills one of the sailors before the other knocks her out with a crowbar. Penny is then taken back to the mainland where she is in a near catatonic state. A doctor tries to enter her mind and find out what happened at the island while the police are content with labeling her the killer of the three corpses - since she did kill one of the sailors. However, Penny killed the sailor with an ancient sword made of gold which interest some archaeologists. They gather into a boat and set to the island to find more ancient artifacts.
On the island, the archaeologists, who are involved in a love rectangle, get dispatched one-by-one while trying to unlock the mystery of the island.
STORY: $$ (No new ground charted here, and like I mentioned before, Penny should have been used more appropriately to convey dread for the archaeologists on the island. Some of the dialogue is atrocious. The female characters are depicted as sexually open, especially Anna Palk, yet they are written as the typical screaming, stay at the house type damsels when terror is presented).
VIOLENCE: $$$$ (Violence hounds won't be letdown. There are multiple stabbings and a decent amount of gore, but that stuff isn't my cup of tea. There is also an explosion and a decapitation mixed in with the stabbings and occasional gun-play).
ACTING: $$ (The acting is quite stiff with Anna Palk shining as the promiscuous vixen. Candace Glendenning does a fine job with the unstable Penny but I found it difficult to care for any character in this film outside of Penny - and again, the character was used poorly).
NUDITY:$$$ (There is plenty of the flesh in this film. When the sailors encounter Penny for the first time, she is stark naked. Her chum also has a nude scene as well as several guys in the film).
To fill you in on the plot, and who this Penny lady is I am referring to, I shall start from the beginning. The film opens with two sailors searching an island. They stumble upon three corpses of young Americans (British actors portraying Americans that is) before they meet up with Penny (Candace Glendenning). Penny is so visibly shaken, she kills one of the sailors before the other knocks her out with a crowbar. Penny is then taken back to the mainland where she is in a near catatonic state. A doctor tries to enter her mind and find out what happened at the island while the police are content with labeling her the killer of the three corpses - since she did kill one of the sailors. However, Penny killed the sailor with an ancient sword made of gold which interest some archaeologists. They gather into a boat and set to the island to find more ancient artifacts.
On the island, the archaeologists, who are involved in a love rectangle, get dispatched one-by-one while trying to unlock the mystery of the island.
STORY: $$ (No new ground charted here, and like I mentioned before, Penny should have been used more appropriately to convey dread for the archaeologists on the island. Some of the dialogue is atrocious. The female characters are depicted as sexually open, especially Anna Palk, yet they are written as the typical screaming, stay at the house type damsels when terror is presented).
VIOLENCE: $$$$ (Violence hounds won't be letdown. There are multiple stabbings and a decent amount of gore, but that stuff isn't my cup of tea. There is also an explosion and a decapitation mixed in with the stabbings and occasional gun-play).
ACTING: $$ (The acting is quite stiff with Anna Palk shining as the promiscuous vixen. Candace Glendenning does a fine job with the unstable Penny but I found it difficult to care for any character in this film outside of Penny - and again, the character was used poorly).
NUDITY:$$$ (There is plenty of the flesh in this film. When the sailors encounter Penny for the first time, she is stark naked. Her chum also has a nude scene as well as several guys in the film).
Gory, Sex-Filled Proto-Slasher
staciewilliams-8951526 March 2020
Would it surprise you to know that Tower of Evil, a British proto-slasher from 1972, probably contains more gore and sex/nudity than most of the early 80's slasher flicks? It's true and quite a pleasant surprise to see a film from this vintage being so explicit and all in service of a silly, but fun story.
A nude young woman (see, right out of the gate, this movie is sleazy) is discovered on a deserted island where all of her friends have been murdered. She's taken to a hospital where they try to figure out what exactly happened to her. A group of investigators head to the island and find themselves picked off one by one by someone or something. It might be a creature or just a mad slasher, but why are they doing this?
Tower of Evil is a nice mix between the slasher genre and a Hammer film with a good deal of grindhouse sleaze thrown into the mix. Pretty much everyone gets naked or has sex at some point and almost everyone meets a gruesome, bloody end.
A nude young woman (see, right out of the gate, this movie is sleazy) is discovered on a deserted island where all of her friends have been murdered. She's taken to a hospital where they try to figure out what exactly happened to her. A group of investigators head to the island and find themselves picked off one by one by someone or something. It might be a creature or just a mad slasher, but why are they doing this?
Tower of Evil is a nice mix between the slasher genre and a Hammer film with a good deal of grindhouse sleaze thrown into the mix. Pretty much everyone gets naked or has sex at some point and almost everyone meets a gruesome, bloody end.
COME FOR THE SEX, STAY FOR THE BAD EFFECTS
mmthos4 December 2020
The plot is one of a typical haunted island with a stilted script so bad the lines are impossible, even for decent actors, to deliver convincingly. There's one notable frenzied sequence of quick-cutting, blood splattering, and a woman constantly screaming bloody murder over all the mayhem, which deserves credit. Otherwise, I think the main appeal is the multiple instances of sex between members of the attractive cast, pushing the limits of sexploitation toward hardcore.
Once most of the attractive cast have been killed off, it's time for fun with the effects. You'll notice the only location mentioned here on imdb is Shepperton Studios. Apart from a few exterior set-up shots, it's entirely filmed on some of the tackiest sets you'll ever see. "Stone" walls, where the "stones" are obviously outlined and painted on fiberboard, caverns with plastic stalactites, suspiciously all clustered around an altar to the island's evil spirit, clearly not the result of millions of years of mineral water deposits, and the island's grotesquely comical monster in residence. Don't expect anything to live up to the false advertising of that scary-looking green ghoul on the "Tower of Evil" poster.. .
In terms of the art of cinema, I cannot, in all good conscience, rate this any higher, but in terms of some sexy idiotic fun, it's a winner.
Once most of the attractive cast have been killed off, it's time for fun with the effects. You'll notice the only location mentioned here on imdb is Shepperton Studios. Apart from a few exterior set-up shots, it's entirely filmed on some of the tackiest sets you'll ever see. "Stone" walls, where the "stones" are obviously outlined and painted on fiberboard, caverns with plastic stalactites, suspiciously all clustered around an altar to the island's evil spirit, clearly not the result of millions of years of mineral water deposits, and the island's grotesquely comical monster in residence. Don't expect anything to live up to the false advertising of that scary-looking green ghoul on the "Tower of Evil" poster.. .
In terms of the art of cinema, I cannot, in all good conscience, rate this any higher, but in terms of some sexy idiotic fun, it's a winner.
A must see
mjshannon18 September 2002
This is a movie for anyone who loves English horror films from the early 70's--and that should mean you!! A fog enshrouded island, a derelict lighthouse, plenty of blood, sex and dated slang--oh yeah it's here in abundance!! Don't listen to the other reviewers when they say this film would have been better if it had been made with today's effects and a larger budget. This film becomes better because it was made on a tighter budget, when the crew had to come up with inventive ways to create atmosphere, menace and a sustained mood. All of these things drip from every frame of this film and the cast is actually very good and even features George Couloris (of Citizen Kane fame) in a short but blood filled cameo at the start of the film and Jill Haworth, who had prior to this film starred in such acclaimed flicks as "Exodus" and the Broadway version of "Cabaret". Forget those films though this is the highlight of her career--everything else was just practice for this baby!! Some might say I'm going too far but that would be wrong. The twists in this film are truly fun and surprising and the musical score adds a real sense of unease to the well directed carnage and misty vistas (hats off to Jim O'Connolly!) So what are you waiting for--this is now out on DVD and looks crisp and vivid. Get it and see how good horror films were not all that long ago!
A moody terror tale.
Hey_Sweden1 December 2012
Horror fanatics should be able to appreciate the film "Tower of Evil" from producer Richard Gordon and screenwriter / director Jim O'Connolly; it's as good - well, maybe not "good", but certainly it's as much fun - as a midnight movie can get. It gets a lot out of its main location, a gloomy looking island off the British coast where a sailor is butchered by a naked American tourist who's clearly gone mad; other dead bodies are found, and the police assume the tourist did it...but others aren't so sure, and when ancient Phoenician treasure is also found on the island, an expedition is launched not only to find out what the big mystery is, but naturally to obtain more treasure.
Yup, this is agreeable "late show" horror with a strong adventure quotient. O'Connolly and a talented crew create tons of atmosphere right from the get-go, as well as a fair bit of suspense. Moreover, some horror fans will especially dig this for being on the trashier side of things, with a dose of nudity - female and male - and some juicy gore.
A capable group of actors does their best with the material, and it certainly doesn't hurt at all that all of the ladies present are real lookers - Jill Haworth as Rose, Anna Palk as Nora, Candace Glendenning as Penny, and Seretta Wilson as Mae. Bryant Haliday of "Curse of the Voodoo" and "The Projected Man" fares well as stoic hero Evan Brent, and William Lucas, Anthony Valentine, Jack Watson, Mark Edwards, Derek Fowlds, Dennis Price, George Coulouris, and Robin Askwith (of various "Confessions" comedies) round out the cast.
Things build and build until a very well done reveal of our murderous antagonist, and a fiery finale that brings the house down - literally. The screenplay itself isn't anything special, but it's what O'Connolly and everybody else involved does with it that matters. Those cave sets are especially impressive. All in all, this is well worth seeking out for horror lovers, and it deserves to be better known.
Seven out of 10.
Yup, this is agreeable "late show" horror with a strong adventure quotient. O'Connolly and a talented crew create tons of atmosphere right from the get-go, as well as a fair bit of suspense. Moreover, some horror fans will especially dig this for being on the trashier side of things, with a dose of nudity - female and male - and some juicy gore.
A capable group of actors does their best with the material, and it certainly doesn't hurt at all that all of the ladies present are real lookers - Jill Haworth as Rose, Anna Palk as Nora, Candace Glendenning as Penny, and Seretta Wilson as Mae. Bryant Haliday of "Curse of the Voodoo" and "The Projected Man" fares well as stoic hero Evan Brent, and William Lucas, Anthony Valentine, Jack Watson, Mark Edwards, Derek Fowlds, Dennis Price, George Coulouris, and Robin Askwith (of various "Confessions" comedies) round out the cast.
Things build and build until a very well done reveal of our murderous antagonist, and a fiery finale that brings the house down - literally. The screenplay itself isn't anything special, but it's what O'Connolly and everybody else involved does with it that matters. Those cave sets are especially impressive. All in all, this is well worth seeking out for horror lovers, and it deserves to be better known.
Seven out of 10.
Pretty dull and stupid
preppy-315 February 2007
Warning: Spoilers
A bunch of kids are found murdered on a remote island. Only one is alive and totally insane. It's determined that she killed everyone else. Another group travels out to the island to see what happened and find out that she didn't do it. Something is loose on the island and starts to hunt them down...
A pretty dull horror film. All the characters are unpleasant (you WANT them all dead), the acting is bad, there are horrible 1970s fashions and the killings are (for the most part) pretty mild. Also you see a bunch of British actors all trying (badly) to fake American accents (the kids who are killed first). Heck, one guy had to be dubbed in! There is plenty of nudity--the girls show their chests, the boys only their butts. What really kills this film though is the confused script which has the characters doing incredibly stupid things.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!! They all know a killer is with them on the island so they immediately separate leaving the women alone; a woman stands and just screams endlessly as her boyfriend gets hacked up in front of her (this happens TWICE!) and a woman tries to escape from the killer by running upstairs. Also these people seem to get over the deaths of their companions very quickly. Look how Dan gets over his wife's death and how they all react to Bron's dead body. SPOILERS END!!!
The DVD transfer from Elite is great--widescreen, good print and in strong color...but the movie just isn't good. I heard this helped kill the British film industry--it's easy to see why! I give it a 4.
A pretty dull horror film. All the characters are unpleasant (you WANT them all dead), the acting is bad, there are horrible 1970s fashions and the killings are (for the most part) pretty mild. Also you see a bunch of British actors all trying (badly) to fake American accents (the kids who are killed first). Heck, one guy had to be dubbed in! There is plenty of nudity--the girls show their chests, the boys only their butts. What really kills this film though is the confused script which has the characters doing incredibly stupid things.
SPOILERS AHEAD!!! They all know a killer is with them on the island so they immediately separate leaving the women alone; a woman stands and just screams endlessly as her boyfriend gets hacked up in front of her (this happens TWICE!) and a woman tries to escape from the killer by running upstairs. Also these people seem to get over the deaths of their companions very quickly. Look how Dan gets over his wife's death and how they all react to Bron's dead body. SPOILERS END!!!
The DVD transfer from Elite is great--widescreen, good print and in strong color...but the movie just isn't good. I heard this helped kill the British film industry--it's easy to see why! I give it a 4.
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