Homicidal (Castle, 1961) & Madhouse (Clark, 1974): Roxy Bar & Screen, 3pm
This event is organised by the Classic Horror Campaign, a pressure group aiming to bring back regular screenings of horror films to terrestrial television. Here is their Facebook page.
Time Out review of Homicidal:
'One from cult shock-meister William Castle, of The Tingler fame. Castle himself introduces this passably creepy tale about an Old Dark House, a murderous blonde, a paralysed old Swedish woman, and a mysterious young man. Not quite his loopiest film, it cribs brazenly from Psycho, to good effect. This time, the gimmick-fixated maestro didn't go as far as wiring up cinema seats or dangling creepy crawlies from the ceiling; instead, the faint-hearted were offered a 'fright break' in which to make their excuses and leave.' Jonathan Romney
Here is a wonderful news report on the movie. The director offered cinemagoers their money back if they were too frightened to stay after the 'fright break' and see the film's "shocking climax." And here is the Fright Break.
Time Out review of Madhouse:
'Basically an actor's revenge plot in the wake of Theatre of Blood, but reasonably witty in its use of inter-penetrating fantasies born of the Dream Factory. The film has its faults, not least a tendency to allow things to go over the top; but the interweaving of the character of Paul Toombes, fictional veteran star of the Doctor Death series who is no longer able to tell fantasy and reality apart (he is glimpsed roaming Sunset Boulevard in his Doctor Death costume), with the real-life career of Vincent Price (who plays the part), is quite inspired and lends the film some sharp moments. Sequences from The Fall of the House of Usher, The Raven and other Price movies add a deeper piquancy to the mixture. A number of small parts are nicely filled, and in-jokes include the total dispensability of the TV series director: his death goes all but unnoticed.' Verina Glaessner
Here is the inspired trailer.
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