Posesión diabólica

I sort of liked this one, but mainly because of the performances of Peter Cushing and John Hurt. Also, Ian McCullough is rather good in it too. However, if you have seen the movie "The Oblong Box" and "The Dunwich Horror" you will know where this one is going. No surprises are in store for you and there really are few murders so it is not exactly a gore fest. So the only thing this one really has going is the actors I have already mentioned and if you do not really care for them I would have to suggest you skip this one. The ending to this one is also very much like the ending to "The Oblong Box" where you wait to see the face of the killer and in the end it is really not all that big a deal. Still though, the movie manages to not to be to boring, well to me anyway and if you are a big Peter Cushing fan you may want to check it out.

First off this is NOT a remake of the 1933 film "The Ghoul" starring Boris Karloff - this is a completely different movie all together - one has nothing to do with the other.

Secondly this 1975 film starring Peter Cushing "The Ghoul" is also known as "Night of the Ghoul".

Third: This film is actually a good horror film. Not only because the great Peter Cushing stars (and is outstanding in it) but John Hurt's performance in this is very convincing as well. Gwen Watford is good in this movie too. The movie is worth watching if you like horror.

Fourth: The sad trivia behind Peter Cushing's performance: There is a photo in the film which is/was Cushing's wife Veronica Carlson who died in 1971 - so Cushing's emotions were real at this point and not an acting job. It is said that this also effected the emotions of others on the set.

8.5/10

I must be one of the few people on earth that likes this film, for in general terms it has been dismissed by critics and fans alike. I guess therefore, it is down to me to explain the appeal of 'The Ghoul'. Well, first and foremost it has Peter Cushing, who makes the film, and gives one of his best ever performances. Filmed when he had recently lost his wife, this must have been a difficult time for him, but he nevertheless rises to the occasion and gives a most sensitive performance. There is one touching scene where you see him look at an actual photo of Helen whilst talking to Veronica Carlson. Apart from Veronica Carlson, the film also benefits from some fine performances from John Hurt and Gwen Watford. It's a film supposedly set in Cornwall with swirling mists from the moors, adding to the atmosphere of the house itself. The opening of the film is quite unique and conjures up an atmosphere right from the start, even if there is a certain amount of deception involved. Peter Cushing was one of my favourite actors and it is unfortunate to say the least, that this film has not been issued on DVD, supposedly because Tyburn Films have gone out of production and nobody else has the rights to issue anything from that catalogue. This means that the excellent interview with Peter Cushing called 'One Way Ticket to Hollywood' (only on video) also remains unissued. The two things together would make an admirable issue onto DVD. It would be a shame if these films were lost forever. Peter Cushing doesn't deserve this, nor do his fans! As for now, I make no apology for heaping some overdue praise on a film which has been unfairly ignored and deserves to be re-evaluated.

Those of you who love a good mystery should love this movie. After a party for the rich, 2 couples at the party decide to race to lands end in Cornwall. Soon one of the cars breaks down, one is off the road and they are in trouble. One of the women goes into a mansion to ask for help and it's clear that she's unwelcome. Peter Cushing plays Dr Lawrence who hides a dark secret in the attic. Cushing is quite dull in his role but he comes back at the end. John Hurt is completely miscast as the grumpy and perverted gardener. He actually plays the role very well and it's fun to see him do something interesting. He also invented a great new slap. He raises his hand and brings it down to chop the persons face with his fingers. I tried it and it's very painful! It shall be referred to as 'The ghoul slap'. As for the movie, the rest of the cast is on good form and Ian McCulloch stars in a pre 'Zombi 2' role. Still, he tries to take on the ghoul at the end and fails miserably. The atmosphere is superb with marshes and fog although the movie does run at a slow pace. Killings are the usual with stabbing's and shootings although some scenes have great special fx for gore. Particularly Ian McCulloch's demise. It is well worth a watch although it is very dodgy and quite slow. 5.5 out of 10.

This is the first film from Tyburn Productions (a supposed latter-day successor to Hammer and Amicus; they also had Peter Cushing starring in Legend of the Werewolf(1975) and Masks of Death(1984)).

This has to rank as one of Peter Cushing's most memorable performances - his role is portrayed with such dedicated nervousness and emotion, that the viewer immediately gets his sympathy.

The female photographs used in the movie are of his real wife Helen, who had passed away in 1971. The tears that Peter Cushing sheds in this film are for real and it did affect the rest of the cast quite deeply.

Aside from this, the plot stumbles along with yawning gaps of pointless dialogue and actionless scenes, until the Ghoul is revealed at the end. It's not really worth the wait!

Watch it only for a dedicated professional at work who steals all the scenes and makes a poor film seem passable.