Runtime: 86 minutes
Directed by: Robert Hartford-Davis
Starring: John Turner, Heather Sears, Ann Lynn, Peter Arne, Norman Bird
From: Compton Films/Tekli British Productions
Another review done by request. After a day off from reviews yesterday (granted, either Saturday or Sunday I hope to post two reviews in a day) I picked a relatively obscure British horror film-a deliberate clone of Italian Gothic pictures-as earlier in the year a Letterboxd mutual asked if I had seen this… after replying “no,” he gave a recommendation. I’d feel like a heel if I didn’t check it out during this time of the year.
In rural England during the late 1700’s, a Lord (Sir Richard) returns to his manor, newly married. He previously had a wife who is now deceased due to a gruesome reason. What misfortune for him that people are claiming to have seen him in the area when he was in London for a few months… and accuse him for a rash of recent murders of young ladies. Has Sir Richard lost his marbles, or is there another explanation? You can likely guess the direction the film is headed towards, especially after a giant hint was dropped in the first half. Perhaps that was deliberate and it was all about the journey…
What I can say with certainty: the Sir Richard character is an arrogant, haughty jerk. He’s a pampered rich dude, after all. If you think that makes him unsympathetic—you would be mistaken as I still felt pity for the fate that befell this member of the hoi polloi. Your opinion of the lout may vary. There were some nice performances from John Turner as Richard and Heather Sears-of Hammer’s The Phantom of the Opera fame-as his bride Elizabeth.
For a product of a smaller British studio, the Gothic vibes are still present in an appropriately chilling mansion, a ghost seen during the night, screams (not just from Richard; he’s a character who is often OOT, although not as much as the bombastic score), period dress, the atmosphere, and some eccentricities. I’m not referring to Richard’s father having suffered a stroke and can only communicate by the 18th century version of sign language-although that is uncommon-but rather how this includes an epic swordfight. We don’t get enough sword action in horror flicks.
The Black Torment is a splendid title; what the heck it means or its applicability with the plot… beats me.
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