The Skull

Adapted from a Robert Bloch short story, the capable Freddie Francis directs what begins as a traditional British horror film, but ends up morphing into a sort of semi-experimental work in which the dreamlike component takes center stage, with a less than convincing result.

After an unquestionably appealing opening and a first half characterized by a healthy dose of mystery, the plot begins to lose steam, finally running aground on the sandy shores of eccentricity. And so, when elegance devolves to redundancy and an overly baroque style, the audience is left watching a plethora of interminable, padded scenes where poor Peter Cushing is forced to wander disoriented from one set to another, captive to a ludicrous skull hanging in mid-air.

Christopher Lee definitely fares better (in part because his character is fortunate enough not to appear in the craziest scenes) in his supporting, but no less commendable, role. Supporting cast rich with faces well-known to fans of the genre – Patrick Magee and Michael Gough especially.

Produced by British film company “Amicus”.