BORIS KARLOFF CHRISTOPHER LEE BARBARA STEELE: THE CRIMSON CULT (1968) AKA CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR
After the disappearance of his brother, antique dealer Robert Manning (Mark Eden) travels to the remote country manor of Greymarsh where he was last seen. There he stays with the charming J. D. Morley(Christopher Lee) and his beautiful niece, Eve (Virginia Wetherell). However, the Morley family are descendants of Lavinia Morley (Barbara Steele), the legendary Black Witch of Greymarsh. As Robert continues to investigate the disappearance of his brother, he is haunted by horrible dreams about black masses and ritual sacrifices. Robert ends up seeking the wheelchair bound Professor John Marshe (Boris Karloff), an expert on the occult, for help.
I would like to say that I adore this film, being a fan of so many of its iconic cast members and the work of H.P. Lovecraft upon whose "The Dreams in the Witch House" it is (very) loosely based. Perhaps if it had been helmed by the great Mario Bava, the result would have been a film much more in keeping with the traditions of true gothic horror. As it is, however, the production falls flat because of a dull script and laconic direction. Indeed,"The Blood Beast Terror", a period horror thriller with science fiction elements which Vernon Sewell had directed earlier that same year, is a superior entry in Sewell's dosier thanks to its believable characters and superior dialogue.
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