John Reilly, his wife Susan and blind daughter Rebecca go to Italy to claim a castle John inherited. Their arrival at the D'Orsino castle disturbs a monstrous being kept segregated in the dungeon. From that moment, heinous murders ensue, and the only suspect for the police seems to be John.
Castle Freak (1995) is a wonderful horror gem by the immense Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Dagon). Shot in Terni, Italy, the film is a little-known B-movie but not without a certain charm. Indeed, the film possesses a wonderful, truly dark cursed castle atmosphere and a very interesting monster that manages to elicit a mixture of horror and compassion. In addition to this, the horrible being is very reminiscent of the one in Jean-Paul Ouellette's The Creature, both in its movements and its ferocity.
Gordon's film takes elements of 1960s Gothic films and adds delightful splatter sequences (the nipple-biting monster-a scene reminiscent of Zombie Horror-and devours the prostitute's vagina), more up-to-date special effects, and some sex scenes. Commendable performances by the great Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, unfailing actors in the director's films.
To be dusted off.
Fun fact: The cast also includes Luca Zingaretti, the well-known Commissario Montalbano from the TV drama of the same name.
Review of Lady of sorrow
