Nightmare Castle (1966)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Yet another Gothic shocker, the ones that the Italians could make in their sleep by now. Once again events take place at a remote mansion, inhabited by sinister servants. Barbara Steele is on the receiving end of some nasty acts of violence before getting her revenge in the final reel. Sounds just like every other Italian Gothic film you've seen? You'd be right, and it's just as much fun.Once again the use of crisp black and white photography creates some stunning images with light and darkness battling for domination of the screen. Then again I watched this film in a widescreen, pristine print so I may just be biased. There's lots of creeping around in crypts and inexplicable noises in the distance, windows blowing open, etc. which help to give this film a nicely spooky atmosphere. This atmosphere is also increased by a beautiful, stately Gothic score by Ennio Morricone, one of the best composers of all time.The acting is good all round, only occasionally veering into ham. Barbara Steele once again gets to play a dual role, and also gets to dish out/be at the receiving end of some terrible torture. Indeed, the increased violence level here is what sets it apart from the other Gothic entries; while CASTLE OF BLOOD and contemporaries were happy to leave the violence implied and off screen, NIGHT OF THE DOOMED is happy to show some nasty torture in all its glory. One man has his face disfigured, another is burnt alive while tied to a chair, and there's a cruel hot poker moment in there too. The violence is only used occasionally, and there's nowhere near the amount that the blurb states, but it's shocking nonetheless. Steele also gets to wear some horrible makeup at the film's climax.Many people would complain that the pacing of this film is too slow, but I loved it. For the most part Steele thinks she is going insane, hearing noises in her head and dreaming of a murder. There's even an added sub-plot about a servant who seems to have come straight from COUNTESS Dracula and needs to have blood transfusions to keep her young. McDouglas is excellent as the stuffy, seemingly nice but cruelly evil husband, and even the dashing male lead is likable. The special effects are simple and effective; the only failure is a cheap-looking electrocution. Besides, when we have such classic moments as a man wiring up a bath to electrocute an enemy and an impaled heart being thrown in a fire, thereby dispelling the ghosts, it's easy to overlook these minor flaws. An excellent addition to your collection if you're a fan of Gothic cinema.

I'm sure I have seen this before but it would have been the shorter public domain version and not this splendid full length and splendid condition Severin print. Now it is possible to enjoy this super creepy, Gothic horror in all its splendour. Morricone music is a bonus, apparently his first horror score, the cinematography is also good and the very best is made of the splendid mansion that forms the set for most of the movie. Needless to say, Barbara Steele is great throughout in both her roles although she looks better with her natural dark hair than the blond. Full tilt beginning and although some feel this gets a bit wordy in the middle, it was fine by me and didn't seem to let up at all. I was a bit dismayed when it seemed the was going to turn into one of those, 'drive the wife mad movies' but it is much more than that and indeed is surprisingly graphic with electrolysis and blood transfusions. Helga Line also does well but has tough opposition with Steele taking most scenes.

Seems there is a short version and a longer version floating around. Not wanting to miss any important information I went for the longest version and that might have been a mistake as it really dragged after a great first 20 minutes. Once Muriel and her lover are killed of and half sister Jenny comes into play it becomes basically a movie with a long slow burning build-up to a good albeit unsurprising climax. However it's all pretty unspectacular, the grim and dark atmosphere of the start scenes cannot be repeated any more. Furthermore are the characters of both doctors rather dull as is Solange. I don't know what Stephen actually saw in her. And of course there is the obligatory attraction between doctor and patient. Even though the ending was way better than Castle of Blood I kept behind with too many questions, with such duration that is not very good. Black Sunday remains the best movie with Barbara Steele so far.

I'm working my way through the Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection and NIGHTMARE CASTLE is one of the movies in the set. I am watching them with my soon-to-be seven-year old daughter, which makes most of these movies a laugh riot.However, NIGHTMARE CASTLE is not one of them! In fact, it is just my kind of old-fashioned, B-grade horror movie. It is an especially creepy thriller! Barbara Steele plays a duel role as an unfaithful wife; and, her mentally fragile sister. Despite being obviously the same person, it's easy to suspend one's disbelief because the characters are so completely different – the wig doesn't hurt either.The plot gives way to Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith marrying the sister, to keep his hands on his late-wife's fortune (of course after torturing her and her lover in the first part of the movie). He does this to continue his bizarre experiments, including extracting the hearts of his two victims, for the benefit of his ally Solange, the maid – who really wants to be more than that in the doctor's life.NIGHTMARE CASTLE features beautiful cinematography, lush locations; and, an aptly Gothic castle. It is rather thin on plot; and, has absolutely abysmal dialogue, due to poor dubbing.Barbara Steele is exceptionally well cast; and, offers up apt performances. The score is quite eerie (I wish the sound was better on this print); and, sufficiently intensifies the atmosphere and action.Yes, the plot reads like a sordid melodrama. But, I like NIGHTMARE CASTLE.