Noite de Horrores

This movie is "The Cat and the Canary" meets "The Old Dark House". Lugosi is given top billing but his character is secondary in the plot . A mad killer is stalking the grounds of a spooky old house after going on a killing spree and evading the local police. Inside the house are some murder victims but is the mad killer the real culprit? The house also contains a laboratory where a young scientist is attempting to experiment with a chemical formula that he hopes will raise the dead and is using himself as a guinea pig."Night of Terror" is yet another murder mystery masquerading as a horror story. Bela Lugosi was added to the cast to give the film a horror element but all he does is provide a few menacing glares. Old Dark House thrillers were very popular with movie audiences in the 1930's and Night of Terror is a prime example of one. Wallace Ford is around to add the obligatory comedy relief that film makers felt was necessary to relief the tension in these kinds of productions at the time.The film also has a black comedy ending.

Night of Terror was included in the Son of Shock Theater Movie package sold to local TV stations across the country in 1958 by Screen Gems following the success of Shock Theater in 1957. Night of Terror may seem quaint by today's standards but film buffs will find it an entertaining way to spend and hour

In NIGHT OF TERROR, we learn that "The Maniac" killer (Edwin Maxwell) has struck again, and is on the loose! Meanwhile, at the nearby Rinehart estate, the murdering madman slips into the mansion unnoticed. This, while resident scientist, Professor Hornsby (George Meeker) prepares to be buried alive, to prove the efficacy of his new life-restorative formula, and resident mystic, Degar (Bela Lugosi) creeps about the place.

Enter Mary Rinehart, whose father, Richard (Tully Marshall) hopes for wedding bells to ring for she and Hornsby. As the night progresses, more murders take place.

Enter smart aleck reporter, Tom Hartley (Wallace Ford), and a squad car full of cops! As more family members and scientists arrive, the tension grows, and second resident mystic, Sika (Mary Frey) forecasts doom!

A great "old dark house"-type film, this one has a lot of moving parts. There's even a seance! The turban-wearing Lugosi is at his menacing best, while Ford is heroic and humorous by turns.

Thoroughly enjoyable hokum...

This film has a special interest to me because it was the only one with my grandmother, Mary Frey, on screen. It has all of the usual old spooky house elements with lots of screams and surprises. Along with this there are the stock incompetent police, and elements of classic farce. But I think the director had some fun with these elements. Check out the scenes with the grinning skeleton. With all of the special effects now available we can't take this film seriously, but we can laugh at the clichés. One notable flaw is the music which does not go well with some of the scenes. It is way too upbeat when it should be communicating mystery. However, it is very soft so it is not obtrusive.

The séance scene has a little history. According to my father it was filmed during an aftershock of the Long Beach earthquake. But the actors were stage professionals and kept going despite the heavy lights swaying over their heads. The director was so impressed by the intent expressions that he said it was perfect with no retakes needed.

OK, the characters are one dimensional, but that is common in this genre. Lugosi has ample opportunity to use dramatic facial expressions and outbursts. Very small children may find this movie frightening. The only available copy from Sinister Cinema is a fairly good, but soft focus print.

I'm sorry I waited so long to see this film; for years I'd heard how poor it allegedly was, so I made the mistake of steering clear of it for far too long. It's nothing 'great,' but it certainly was fair enough and hit the spot with me for Halloween-time viewing. It's a murder mystery set in a creepy house with a decent share of horrific elements: a Mr. Hyde-like goon with a knife in top hat and cape called The Maniac stalks the grounds; a scientist experiments with suspended animation and getting himself buried alive; the otherworldly Bela Lugosi headlines as a peculiar household servant in a turban who's married to his eerily mystical wife. Add to the mix Wallace Ford (THE MUMMY'S HAND, THE MUMMY'S TOMB, THE APE MAN) and some occasional dashes of humor, and there are far worse ways to spend just over an hour. The wrap-up of this whodunit is satisfying, and there is a secret 'gag' ending that really delivers. ** out of ****

A crazed knife wielding serial killer (Edwin Maxwell) is stalking a family and guests at an old dark house where there is the reading of a will.

Effective low budget programme horror film from Columbia Pictures with a good deal of ol' fashioned creepy and creaky style, not to mention Maxwell's face at the window. A turbaned Bela Lugosi as the mysterious and exotic butler gives out his signature stare with some gusto here.