Le caveau de la terreur

Since I first saw photos of it when I was a little kid, I wanted to see this early 1970s horror movie from the same British who brought us TALES OF THE CRYPT. When I was like 7 or 8 years old, I was a little chilled by the photo of the man hanging upside-down and a vampire has connected a tap-fawcet to the unfortunate bloke's neck! Sadly, this scene happens in VAULT OF HORROR (1973) exactly as it did in magazine oldies like FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and THE MONSTER TIMES: It's a still shot! That's right, a single photo of the fanged villain and his victim! It's done this way for dramatic effect and seems to work, but I had already seen the exact same thing in printed form!

However, this is not to say I was disapointed. This series of stories is very interesting, with intriguing characters throughout. The ending is predictable to anybody who's already seen TALES OF THE CRYPT, but there's a nifty gore seen earlier in the film where a guy's hands get chopped off. As is often the case with British horror, the emphasis is more on drama than sheer terror-- but it's all pretty entertaining.

A great anthology film in the Amicus tradition. Five men find themselves going down an elevator into a huge room(looking like a giant boardroom) where they seem to be expected. Each one has a fear that continually seems to plague him and they relate their fears to each other. The opening lacks the production values and Sir Ralph Richardson of its predecessor Tales From the Crypt as the crypt-keeper sorely, but the stories are all well-done with finesse from cast, crew, and the very able direction of an underappreciated Roy Ward Baker. The first story is about vampires in a small English town, and it is a very tasty vignette. The second story, starring Glynis Johns and Terry-Thomas(both funny beyond belief), is the comedic relief of the film about a man who is too neat who needs to have that point hammered into his head by his wife. For him it is definitely a jarring experience. The third story is about a magician and his wife that kill to acquire a magic trick. Curt Jurgens is very good as the evil magician. A good story. The fourth story is easily the weakest about a man buried alive for insurance. Lastly, the most literate of the stories concerns Dr. Who's Tom Baker seeking revenge on those that have profited on his artwork behind his back. He gets revenge through voodoo. All in all a great deal of fun. As previously stated, be sure to get the uncut version.

"The Vault of Horror" is not one of the best horror anthologies to come from Amicus. The main problem is that the stories just don't have that much kick to them. The execution is reasonable, and there are a few creepy moments as well as some very funny ones. The most valuable asset that the movie can boast is a sterling group of actors who make the most out of so-so material, taken from the old E.C. comics published by William M. Gaines.

A quintet of men are taking the elevator in a big hotel ALL the way down. They end up in a sub basement that they weren't aware existed. With no way out of the place (which looks like a club of sorts), they decide to hang around. Soon, they're regaling each other with the nightmares that are plaguing them.

In "Midnight Mess", Rogers (Daniel Massey) tracks down his sister Donna (Anna Massey) to a rather strange community where it's not advisable to be out and about after dark.

Terry-Thomas plays Mr. Critchit in "The Neat Job". A fussy anal retentive, he drives his new bride Eleanor (Glynis Johns) right up the wall, until she can't take it any longer.

"This Trick'll Kill You" stars Curd Jurgens as Sebastian, a magician who finds a young woman performing a trick that fascinates him. In fact, he's willing to kill to be able to use this trick.

In "Bargain in Death", author Maitland (Michael Craig) thinks he's arranged for the perfect insurance scam, only for his plans to be derailed by some desperate medical students.

Appropriately enough, we end with the best segment, "Drawn and Quartered". Tom Baker plays a painter named Moore. Eager to get revenge on those who exploited him, he makes a deal with a voodoo master, and acquires the ability to destroy people and objects by painting pictures of them, then altering the pictures.

Erik Chitty, Dawn Addams, Edward Judd, and Denholm Elliott are also among this superior British cast. There's a little bit of gore, including one ingenious image in "Midnight Mess". A hysterical comic gag involves Mr. Terry-Thomas. In-jokes add to the fun, with Craig seen reading the novelization for "Tales from the Crypt". In fact, Craig has the best line in the movie when he says, "There's no money in horror."

We fans of the genre know differently. Overall, this is fun. Nothing great at all, but it has its pleasures.

Seven out of 10.

The Vault of Horror (1973) was another Amicus adaptation of the stories that were originally published in comic book form during the fifties. These stories came from the minds of publishing guru Bill Gaines and his staff of brilliant artists and story tellers. E.C. during the fifties was a hugely successful independent comic book company. But due to concerned parents and the crack down on comic book publishers by conservative politicians "who were protecting the children" created the Comic Book decency code that moralized all future comic books.

These brilliant stories first appeared in the VAULT OF HORROR series. Unlike the first film, the main character narrator is missing, other than that, it's the same omnibus style of film making. Odd stories with even mondo bizarro endings. Five tales that'll make you crave for more! Stars Terry-Thomas, Denholm Elliot and Glynis Johns. Watch out for the European cut. It has more blood and gore than the tamed U.S. release.

Highly recommended.

Another melange based on William H Gaines tales fron E. C.. comic books , produced by Amicus: Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky. A classic terror movie formed by five segments well realized and magnificently played . Vintage horror film financed by Amicus with a Great British Cast and formed by several episodes full of creepy events , chills, thrills , gore and guts. It stars with five strangers at an eerie and sisister room .Later on , there they tell how each of the strangers will die . As they explain fantastic visions about their nightmares . It deals with 5 segments with five protagonists : Real-life brother and sister, Daniel Massey-Anne Massey, Curd Jurgens, Michael Craig, Terry Thomas, Tom Baker get in a lift that transports them to a non exit lounge in the basement of a skyscraper. There they confide their recurring nightmares. Each segment has at least 1 killing. It is formed by 5 stories :Midnight mess with Daniel Massey, Anne Massey. The neat job with Terry Thomas, Glynis Johns. Bargain in death with Michael Craig, Edward Judd. This trick will kill you, with Curd Jurgens, Dawn Addams, Jasmine Hilton . And Drawn and quartered with Tom Baker, Demholm Elliott .The rest of the cast is no less impressive, though delivering brief but enjoyable interpretations. And now ...who is next....

Amicus sixth portmanteau movie that simply slaps down its thrilling and terrifying tales, butressing with dreary slabs of plot and chatter, concluding into eerie results. As at a rare room join five strange people who star 5 segments , all of them are filled with mystery , suspense , terror , grisly killings , twisted events and horrible happenings . The British star-studded results to be pretty good with a plethora of notorious actors . Well made terror antology film, and in some places was released as Tales of Crypt II, being compellingly filmed by the gore-minded lad Roy Ward Baker. The better episodes involve the suburban wife Glynis Johns driven to killing and her house-proud husband Terry Thomas constantly nagging about the housekeeping, resulting in an impeccably tidy disposal of a corpse. As well as the surprising story of a rope with a mind of its own starred by Curd Jurgens, Dawn Addams, including nice special effects. . Each story harbours an ingeniously creepy and ghoulish conceit and at the end each tale takes place a grand guignol climax. The great cast is pretty good, giving nice performances , though Edward Judd, Demholm Elliott, Anna Massey have a few lines.. Most stories previously appeared in American comic books as Tales of Crypt from EC comics as well as in The haunt of fear. Colorful , adequate cinematograhy , shot at Shepperton studios . It was compellingly accompanied by a thrilling and suspenseful musical score .

The motion picture was professionally directed by the British horrormeister Roy Ward Baker, though another terror specialist director, Freddie Francis, was the original choice to shot. Here Baker emphasising the frightening, dramatic and suspenseful possibilities. Roy directed a great number of films. Deemed to be a terror expert, as proved in The monster club, Mask of death, And now the screaming starts, The legend of the 7 gold vampires, Asylum, Dr Jekill and his sister Hyde, The scars of Dracula, The vampire lovers, The anniversary. Roy Baker also directed some Hollywood fims such as Inferno, House in the square, A night to remember, Don't bother to knock, and Night with sleep. Rating : acceptable and passable. 6/10. Worthwhile watching.