Black and White film plays better when it’s grey outside. I
don’t know what it is. Late night counts as well and I find myself often
reaching for a Gothic classic around midnight. Last night was no exception
since I was home and it seemed the right night for Nightmare Castle.
Barbara Steele plays Muriel, who taunts her Husband Dr.
Stephen Arrowsmith (Paul Muller), in his laboratory before he is set to leave
town. He is apparently away often and she expresses her displeasure with the
situation. As he walks out he entrusts his groundskeeper David (Rik Battaglia)
to care for her and care for her he does. Since her husband is never home,
Muriel has been making due with the super manly hired help. The elderly maid Solange
sees them as they go out to the green house. Well her husband Stephen was
waiting for this and returns to bash them in the head before chaining them up
and torturing them.
It appears that this whole marriage is over money. Muriel
has it and Stephen wants it. She attempts to buy time by telling him that he is
no longer the beneficiary of her estate but that she has in fact signed
everything over to her mentally unbalanced sister. This stops him momentarily
but he’s not done yet. Hatching a plan with the maid, he ties Muriel to the bed and
fondles her while her lover watches.
Gaining some satisfaction in that, he precedes with the nights main
attractions including acid torture, electrocution and cremation.
Sometime later he returns with a new wife, Muriel’s blonde sister
Jenny (also Barbara Steele), much to the chagrin of Solange, who is now the young
and super-hot Helga Line. The Dr. has been doing some blood experiments that
reversed her age and keep her young. I’ll say this; “mad” scientists tend to
get results. Dr. Stephen works his mojo and continues his life at the
swingingest castle in Italy. Soon Jenny starts having dreams where she
exchanges places with her dead sister, each day pushing her closer to the
breaking point. Is she going crazy or is Muriel’s ghost taking over her body?
Nightmare Castle delivers on the atmosphere thanks to
Director Mark Caiano and Cinematographer Enzo Barboni, who works the doom and
gloom element with great skill. You can’t help but feel a little of what Jenny
is feeling. By the way, if those feelings of creepiness seem familiar, it may
be because the castle used for filming is the same location as Barbara’s taboo breaking:
“The Horrible Dr. Hichcock”
Barbara Steele is excellent as usual in the duo roles of
sisters Muriel and Jenny. This film showcases her unique beauty as both blonde
and brunette, adding a new dimension to her famously captivating eyes. Helga Line, not being one to be shut out of
the sex appeal category, conveys so with her eyes and body language, having to
perform most of her scenes in a conservative black outfit.
Paul Muller is absolutely hate able as greedy scientist Stephen
Arrowsmith. In fact, he reminds me of Dr. Hichcock. Barbara’s characters seem
to always marry weasels don’t they?
Lawrence Clift as true love interest, Dr. Dereck Joyce is thwarted
by Arrowsmith at every attempt but still manages to come off as a hero. That takes
skill (or luck).
The film, like most of Barbara’s euro horror opuses, is more
stage play than film, a small cast and limited sets that make the most of
atmosphere and the promise of impending doom.
It may not be Mario Bava, but Nightmare Castle is worthy of
its actors talents and one more reason that we love this kind of film.
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