Runtime: 71 minutes
Directed by: Mark Robson
Starring: Boris Karloff, Ellen Drew, Marc Cramer, Katherine Emery, Helene Thimig
From: RKO
A Boris Karloff vehicle produced by Val Lewton concerning a plague? Color me intrigued.
That was my reaction when I first heard of this movie; that was awhile ago but yesterday morning Turner Classic Movies played it; via the good ol' DVR, that was watched last night. Turns out, a lot of it seemed familiar... it starts off with Karloff washing his hands, after all. Inspired by a famous painting of the same name, the setting is almost entirely a Greek island during the First Balkan War. The details of the war aren't important, but I'll mention that it was Greece and a few other countries defeating the Ottoman Empire. Another detail that plays a key role in the plot yet a detailed description isn't needed is the local folklore creature Vorvolaka, a creature best described as a cross between a vampire & a zombie.
Karloff plays a General of the Greek Army who is stuck on an island w/ several other people due to circumstances. He does take the threat of the plague very seriously; he won't allow anyone to leave until “it can blow away via winds”... OK, that isn't completely relevant to 2021, but the idea of quarantining and not wanting them to be together in a group sure as hell is. Much of this is all the characters interacting w/ each other in an atmosphere full of dread where light & shadow is used rather well—so for me a great atmosphere. As several people die, one is afraid of being buried alive and another believe it's the doing of the Vorvolaka.
While some nits could be picked, overall this was a pretty good time. In just 71 minutes a chilling tale was told which will be different from the rest of the flicks I'll watch this season. Plus, if possible I attempt to view some particulars during this season... that includes something like “Hammer” or “something involving a legendary genre figure” and this fits the latter.
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