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A group of experienced archeologists are searching for an old and mystic Phoenician treasure when they are surprised by a series of mysterious murders...A group of experienced archeologists are searching for an old and mystic Phoenician treasure when they are surprised by a series of mysterious murders...A group of experienced archeologists are searching for an old and mystic Phoenician treasure when they are surprised by a series of mysterious murders...
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To me, this seemed like a bloody episode of Scooby Doo-really! It has funky swinging 70s styles, spooky, misty locations, and lots of plot twists. But, the flick is also loaded with gory murders done with a funky type machete. Three teens are found hacked up on Snape Island. Did their friend Penny do it, or did someone else? Some people go to explore the quiet, mysterious island only to be stalked and chopped up one by one. Really scary and sick, with some great surprises. Jill Haworth and Anna Palk are good-looking chicks, and the murderer in this movie was genuinely frightening. Despite cruddy picture and ok sound, this is a definite winner. Too bad I don't own the DVD yet. I only own one of the old video versions. Just hunt this movie down, and see it!
TOWER OF EVIL
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Mono
Whilst searching for ancient treasure on a lighthouse-island off the British coastline, an archaeological expedition becomes isolated from the mainland and is stalked by a monstrous assassin.
A trash classic from the heyday of British exploitation, TOWER OF EVIL was helmed and written by Jim O'Connolly, a journeyman director whose career peaked several years earlier with THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1968), one of Ray Harryhausen's best films. Thrown together on a microscopic budget, and based on a script by novelist George Baxt (responsible for such memorable British thrillers as CIRCUS OF HORRORS, THE CITY OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE EAGLE), "Tower..." hedges its commercial bets by emphasizing a couple of high profile cameos (Dennis Price and Anthony Valentine) and foregrounding liberal doses of self-conscious nudity and gore. The opening scenes - in which crusty sea dogs Jack Watson and George Coulouris visit the eponymous lighthouse and stumble on a series of mutilated corpses - sets the tone for much of what follows, and while the main cast are pretty colorless, their mutual antagonism (borne from a convoluted history of infidelity) adds much-needed shading to the basic narrative outline.
Mounted on sparse but effective studio sets (designed by THE Italian JOB's Disley Jones), and photographed by veteran cinematographer Desmond Dickinson - a major player in the glory days of British cinema, whose resumé includes everything from Olivier's HAMLET (1948) to THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (1952), HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) and A STUDY IN TERROR (1965) - the film is cheapened at every turn by amateurish dialogue and threadbare visual effects (no attempt is made to disguise back-projected elements during scenes on the 'open sea', for instance), but these cut-price elements have simply contributed to the film's enduring appeal. Besides, the movie makes few pretensions to 'Art', and O'Connolly stages the major set-pieces with real technical savvy, culminating in a 'twist' ending which seems to have inspired a similar plot development in Tom De Simone's superior HELL NIGHT (1981).
The cast is toplined by Bryant Haliday (a favorite of producer Richard Gordon), former Broadway actress Jill Haworth (THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR), Mark Edwards (BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB) and Derek Fowlds (TV's "Yes, Minister"), while the younger players include Robin Askwith (already a movie veteran, long before his appearance in the "Confessions..." films), physique model John Hamill (a familiar face in UK exploitation movies of the 1970's, and later the co-writer of Bob Clark's TURK 182!), Candace Glendenning (SATAN'S SLAVE) and the late Anna Palk (in her last screen appearance), all of whom are featured in various states of undress. The film was originally screened in the US as HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND, and later reissued as BEYOND THE FOG.
NB. Interested viewers should check out Simon Hunter's LIGHTHOUSE (1999) - originally released in the US as DEAD OF NIGHT - an outstanding British shocker which covers the same territory, but to much greater effect.
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Mono
Whilst searching for ancient treasure on a lighthouse-island off the British coastline, an archaeological expedition becomes isolated from the mainland and is stalked by a monstrous assassin.
A trash classic from the heyday of British exploitation, TOWER OF EVIL was helmed and written by Jim O'Connolly, a journeyman director whose career peaked several years earlier with THE VALLEY OF GWANGI (1968), one of Ray Harryhausen's best films. Thrown together on a microscopic budget, and based on a script by novelist George Baxt (responsible for such memorable British thrillers as CIRCUS OF HORRORS, THE CITY OF THE DEAD and NIGHT OF THE EAGLE), "Tower..." hedges its commercial bets by emphasizing a couple of high profile cameos (Dennis Price and Anthony Valentine) and foregrounding liberal doses of self-conscious nudity and gore. The opening scenes - in which crusty sea dogs Jack Watson and George Coulouris visit the eponymous lighthouse and stumble on a series of mutilated corpses - sets the tone for much of what follows, and while the main cast are pretty colorless, their mutual antagonism (borne from a convoluted history of infidelity) adds much-needed shading to the basic narrative outline.
Mounted on sparse but effective studio sets (designed by THE Italian JOB's Disley Jones), and photographed by veteran cinematographer Desmond Dickinson - a major player in the glory days of British cinema, whose resumé includes everything from Olivier's HAMLET (1948) to THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (1952), HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (1959) and A STUDY IN TERROR (1965) - the film is cheapened at every turn by amateurish dialogue and threadbare visual effects (no attempt is made to disguise back-projected elements during scenes on the 'open sea', for instance), but these cut-price elements have simply contributed to the film's enduring appeal. Besides, the movie makes few pretensions to 'Art', and O'Connolly stages the major set-pieces with real technical savvy, culminating in a 'twist' ending which seems to have inspired a similar plot development in Tom De Simone's superior HELL NIGHT (1981).
The cast is toplined by Bryant Haliday (a favorite of producer Richard Gordon), former Broadway actress Jill Haworth (THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR), Mark Edwards (BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB) and Derek Fowlds (TV's "Yes, Minister"), while the younger players include Robin Askwith (already a movie veteran, long before his appearance in the "Confessions..." films), physique model John Hamill (a familiar face in UK exploitation movies of the 1970's, and later the co-writer of Bob Clark's TURK 182!), Candace Glendenning (SATAN'S SLAVE) and the late Anna Palk (in her last screen appearance), all of whom are featured in various states of undress. The film was originally screened in the US as HORROR ON SNAPE ISLAND, and later reissued as BEYOND THE FOG.
NB. Interested viewers should check out Simon Hunter's LIGHTHOUSE (1999) - originally released in the US as DEAD OF NIGHT - an outstanding British shocker which covers the same territory, but to much greater effect.
Decent horror movie with chills , thrills , ghastly happenings and naive special effects and nowadays , considered to be an underground classic. The movie opens with a boat cruising throughout heavy fog , at a creepy night . The boat lands on the rocky island Snape and two older seaman go on shore . Soon after , they encounter a severed hand and others gory evidences . After that , they see a male body it was attached too , then they decide to go into the mysterious lighthouse to investigate . Sure enough , they find a female corpse and anything else . They split up and find another killed body . Then they meet a live , young woman , Penny (Candace Glendenning) , hiding in a closet and in state of shock ; she subsequently , stabs her saviours . Next , traumatized to an extreme Penny is being examined by a a team of Doctors who talk about her. Disturbing Penny starts to talk and remember how her and friends arrive in Snape Island , as a night of pleasure became a night of terror. And then she begins screaming as the flashbacks unsettling her . After hearing about this , a group of scientists decide to venture to the Island. They also know that the Island is loaded with gold and Phoenician treasures . Eventually, the team of seven ventures out to sea to investigate the Island, on the Sea Ghost . The group is formed by two women (Jill Haworth , Anna Palk) and four other men (Bryant Haliday , Mark Edwards, Gary Hamilton , Jack Watson) , they are the boat crew . One way in, no way out . They came, they saw, they died!
This chilling terror movie contains heart-pounding horror , suspense, thrills , chills , nudism and lots of blood and gore . Dealing with an old and mystic Phoenician treasure , that's why various characters arrive in a mysterious island , there they attempt to find out what happened , being submitted to extremely brutal attacks and enhanced by means of mind-blowing , terrifying frames . The spooky images are wide-ranging , including as follows : disfigured people , severed heads , slashing , beheading , among others . The picture based on George Baxt's original story takes accent on tension by means of a well-knit script full of twists , turns and an unexpected final . It packs eerie images-shock , slick edition and nail-biting pace . It displays some surprising images , colorful scenarios and foggy atmosphere that seem to be influenced in the successful John Carpenter's hit horror film The Fog (1980). Despite being dismissed critically and really panned by reviewers when it was firstly released , the flick has since gone on to get itself a reputation as a terror cult movie .
Here stands out the gorgeous and brilliant cinematography by Desmond Dickinson . As well as thrilling and suspenseful by Kenneth V. Jones . The motion picture was professionally written and directed Jim O'Connolly and filmed over a 30 day period . Resulting in an acceptable yarn , though originally released in Britain on a double bill with another one . Director Jim O'Connolly was a fine producer , production manager, and filmmaker , known for The Traitors (1962), Mistress Pamela (1973) and Smokescreen (1964) . His greatest successes were Berserk (1967) and Valley of Gwangi (1969) . Rating : 6/10 , worthwhile seeing .
This chilling terror movie contains heart-pounding horror , suspense, thrills , chills , nudism and lots of blood and gore . Dealing with an old and mystic Phoenician treasure , that's why various characters arrive in a mysterious island , there they attempt to find out what happened , being submitted to extremely brutal attacks and enhanced by means of mind-blowing , terrifying frames . The spooky images are wide-ranging , including as follows : disfigured people , severed heads , slashing , beheading , among others . The picture based on George Baxt's original story takes accent on tension by means of a well-knit script full of twists , turns and an unexpected final . It packs eerie images-shock , slick edition and nail-biting pace . It displays some surprising images , colorful scenarios and foggy atmosphere that seem to be influenced in the successful John Carpenter's hit horror film The Fog (1980). Despite being dismissed critically and really panned by reviewers when it was firstly released , the flick has since gone on to get itself a reputation as a terror cult movie .
Here stands out the gorgeous and brilliant cinematography by Desmond Dickinson . As well as thrilling and suspenseful by Kenneth V. Jones . The motion picture was professionally written and directed Jim O'Connolly and filmed over a 30 day period . Resulting in an acceptable yarn , though originally released in Britain on a double bill with another one . Director Jim O'Connolly was a fine producer , production manager, and filmmaker , known for The Traitors (1962), Mistress Pamela (1973) and Smokescreen (1964) . His greatest successes were Berserk (1967) and Valley of Gwangi (1969) . Rating : 6/10 , worthwhile seeing .
It's flower power in the tower, as four swingin' hippies land on Snape island in order to get their groove on. Oh no! All mellows are harshed as a mad killer arises to bum their collective trip.
Later, a team of archaeologists arrives on the scene. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery massacre, or will they too be slaughtered by the hideous, giggling inhabitant of Snape island?
TOWER OF EVIL is a magnificent opus of longhairs, murder, and gratuitous nudity. Co-stars Brian Jones / Mick Jagger hybrid, Robin Askwith as Des. A delirious delight...
Later, a team of archaeologists arrives on the scene. Can they get to the bottom of the mystery massacre, or will they too be slaughtered by the hideous, giggling inhabitant of Snape island?
TOWER OF EVIL is a magnificent opus of longhairs, murder, and gratuitous nudity. Co-stars Brian Jones / Mick Jagger hybrid, Robin Askwith as Des. A delirious delight...
One of the better low budget horror movies I've watched recently. Although the German alternative title "Turm der lebenden Leichen" ("Tower of the Living Dead") promises zombies, there is no-one returning from the dead here. Well, maybe that's better anyway ;-)
The film tells the story of a bunch of hippies (remember, this was made in the early 70s) who spend a night on a lonely island. All of them are killed except for one girl. Logical thinking leads the police to conclude she must be the murderer then, and they lock her up at the lunatic asylum. Relatives and local fishermen, however, believe there must be someone else - or something else - lurking on the island. They are courageous or stupid enough to start exploring the dark caves in the rocks... The whole set looks really cheap, but apart from that I liked the movie. It is exactly in the middle between old-fashioned 60s Hammer horror and 80s splatter movies, which means there are still traces of gothic atmosphere like the lighthouse in the fog, but already a few effective, vicious shock effects, too.
The film tells the story of a bunch of hippies (remember, this was made in the early 70s) who spend a night on a lonely island. All of them are killed except for one girl. Logical thinking leads the police to conclude she must be the murderer then, and they lock her up at the lunatic asylum. Relatives and local fishermen, however, believe there must be someone else - or something else - lurking on the island. They are courageous or stupid enough to start exploring the dark caves in the rocks... The whole set looks really cheap, but apart from that I liked the movie. It is exactly in the middle between old-fashioned 60s Hammer horror and 80s splatter movies, which means there are still traces of gothic atmosphere like the lighthouse in the fog, but already a few effective, vicious shock effects, too.
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was re-released in the US under the title "Beyond the Fog" in 1980. The reason for the new title was an attempt to capitalize on the success of John Carpenter's hit horror film Fog (1980).
- GoofsUnder hypnosis, Penny "recalls" incidents from the island she did not witness.
- Quotes
Nora: Brom, do you think you could escort me to the bedroom, protect me from things that go bang in the night?
Rose Mason: What're you waiting for, an engraved invitation?
- Alternate versionsThe original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to heavily edit shots of stabbings, a lovemaking scene, and scenes of a man on fire. Later versions were uncut, though the 2005 DVD featured a re-edited print which had no censor cuts but gained/lost extra scenes through print damage and some restoration.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987)
- How long is Tower of Evil?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Le Vampire de l'île du diable
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $400,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 29m(89 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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