Directed by Roy Ward Baker
Starring Ian Oglivy, Stephanie Beacham, Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee, Guy Rolfe

This was kind of a different film for Amicus, first off, not being an anthology film. But it was a period piece as well. Amicus’ films usually were set in modern day, except maybe I, Monster (1971). So this was something new for them. But once again, when you have a great story, a first-rate director, and an exceptional all-star cast, it’s really hard to go wrong.

The original title for the film was The Bride of Fengriffen, which was based on the book Fengriffen, and is your classic gothic tale of a ghostly haunting and revengeful curses. But it seems that producer Max Rosenberg decided that his title would be a better one, much to the dismay of just about everyone, including me. But don’t let this cheesy exploitation title fool you. You still have a great little gothic supernatural movie.

Charles Fengriffen, played by Ian Oglivy, brings his new bride, played by the beautiful Stephanie Beacham, to his ancestral mansion home. This location used for this mansion just happens to be Oakley Court, which used by Hammer and seen in countless of their films, not to mention other titles like Vampyres (1974) and even The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). But immediately upon arrival, strange things start to happen to the bride. She starts to see a strange eyeless man, who’s missing one hand. We also see the missing hand wandering around the house. We learn that there seems to have been a curse laid on the Fengriffen family after Charles grandfather, played to the hilt by Herbert Lom, shows the locals his power over the peasants.

The film does a great job of bringing a sense of dread to the new bride. Since she is the main point of the curse, the whole movies focuses on her and her torment. We learn the history of the curse as she does.  While this poor woman goes through hell, and we feel the torment and terror she feels.  And as we realize the extent and purpose of the curse, it only gets worse. I think without Stephanie Beacham’s excellent performance, a lot of the terror would have been lost. But with her pretty much carrying the film, she captures the audiences empathy, and we feel the same overcoming and unstoppable terror that she does.

Like a lot of Amicus’ films, this is a who’s who of British horror. Of course, right off the top, you have Peter Cushing as the doctor who is trying to help the troubled bride. But then you have the likes of Patrick Magee, Guy Rolfe, and Herbert Lom just adding to the mix. Lom really shows us his evil side here, and is just awesome. And with Roy Ward Baker directing, he does a great job putting this movie together, as always. With this kind of cast and crew, it’s really hard to mess up. To make it even better, they have a great script, with a good old fashion supernatural ghost revenge story.

If you’re a fan of British horror, especially of that era, and of Amicus, this really is a must see. So entertaining and so much fun to watch all of this talent on screen.