Terror Creatures from the Grave (1965)

[Dehydrator]

I´ve been tracking down Barbara Steel´s work as an actress ever since I developed a crush on her via Mario Bava´s masterpiece "Mask of Satan", one of my favorite movies of all time. Funnily enough if it wasn´t for ever I don´t think I´d ever given something like 8 0,5 a look in those days. Her work in the genre streches about eight or so movies, some of them great ("The horrible Secret of Dr. Hitchcock, Danse Macabre, The Long Hair of Death), some of them not (The She Beast), some of them just middle-of the road ("Nightmare Castle, Curse of the crimson Altar). Not to forget her bit-part in Cronenbergs debut Rabid.

Most of her horror work was based in italy, like this topic´s subject, originally named "5 Tombs per un Medium". It took me years to find a copy on VHS (the US-Release happens to be cut) and it turned out to be one of the crappiest examples of it´s kind. Maybe my old video is finally dying but man what a fucking crappy tape. The fact that I even bothered to sit through the entire thing on such conditions speaks volumes for the film actually.

The plot finds some young lawyer going to visit a client in his castle due to a note received a week before from the guys employer. Turns out the client is dead for over a year and spooky shit starts to happen real fast. One of my main points of criticism against the movie is that is tries to throw too much stuff into it´s scenario so I´m being intentionally short on that here. Although bloated in rather unconvincing plot turns it´s not short of some nice ghoulish suprises and creepy shit.

Barbara Steele stars as the dead guy´s widow and is, as always a joy to behold. The directing by Massimo Pupillo is surprisingly good and the camera work milks the nice sets for all their worth. Considering he´s also the anti-talent behind the all-time-cheesiest european horror film ever ("Bloody Pit of horror") that´s quite some feat. There are some touches of italo-western in here even, just check that one flashback before the end. The score is also quite good overall, save for a terrible folk-song that unfortunately plays a big role in the story. That song and the rather whack ending are more points that keep the film from rising from good shit to very good shit in my book but on a whole, I was glad that I made the effort of finding it.

This isn´t a perfect film by any means but if you´re into 60s horror you might still enjoy it a lot. It´s still a lot better than hundreds of movies of it´s ilk, that very italian atmosphere and Barbara Steele make it something special. It needs a good DVD or Blue Ray release though, and fast.

[HannibalGuy]

What is this?! Another contributor to this lonely forum? Admittedly, I've yet to see this one. It's on DVD but if you read the reviews on Amazon it appears that the transfer is out of this world bad.

[Dehydrator]

As long as someone reads it and maybe remembers to check it out and get hooked upon stuff like that...it´s still worth posting I guess, most of the more obscure stuff I revieved on this site hasn´t even got a reply

I´d avoid the DVD, I heard it´s worse then my tape and as I said, that was bad already. I´ll properply review one of the more easily avaible Barbara Steele flicks sometime soon.

[HannibalGuy]

Originally Posted by Dehydrator

As long as someone reads it and maybe remembers to check it out and get hooked upon stuff like that...it´s still worth posting I guess, most of the more obscure stuff I revieved on this site hasn´t even got a reply

I´d avoid the DVD, I heard it´s worse then my tape and as I said, that was bad already. I´ll properply review one of the more easily avaible Barbara Steele flicks sometime soon.

I'm suprised a company like Blue Underground or Code Red hasn't gotton their hands on this one already.

[Lost in Space]

Funny you brought this up I just watched Bloody Pit of Horror yesterday and actually didn't hate it. Obviously it's pure cheese but it's nice cheese.

[Duke Nukem]

It appears I've seen some of Barbara Steele's work. "Nightmare Castle" is part of a 50 movie boxset, and I enjoyed it. Like those old castle movies. "Curse of the Crimson Alter" a.k.a. "The Crimson Cult" is one of the movies I got at the last convention, and have yet to watch any of them. Waiting until June.

[Dehydrator]

Originally Posted by HannibalGuy

I'm suprised a company like Blue Underground or Code Red hasn't gotton their hands on this one already.

The copyrights to this one a properbly rotting away in some long forgotten basement, guarded by tigers. Seriously, there´s still heaps of great movies that never made it on a decent DVD. I´d definitely stand in line for this one.

[Dehydrator]

Originally Posted by Lost in Space

Funny you brought this up I just watched Bloody Pit of Horror yesterday and actually didn't hate it. Obviously it's pure cheese but it's nice cheese.

Oh I don´t HATE it. It´s obviously not meant to be taken very serious. I was just suprised because TERROR CREATURES is actually a very competent horror film, which BLOODY PIT OF HORROR isnt.