Synopsis
In the sixteenth century, Francis Barnard travels to Spain to clarify the strange circumstances of his sister's death after she had married the son of a cruel Spanish Inquisitor.
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Cast
- Vincent PriceNicholas Medina / Sebastian Medina
- John KerrFrancis Barnard
- Barbara SteeleElizabeth Barnard Medina
- Luana AndersCatherine Medina
- Antony CarboneDoctor Leon
- Patrick WestwoodMaximillian
- Lynette BernayMaria
- Mary MenziesIsabella
- Charles VictorBartolome
- Larry TurnerYoung Nicholas
Recommendations
- 90
Time Out
Corman at his intoxicating best, drawing a seductive mesh of sexual motifs from Poe's story through a fine Richard Matheson script. - 80
The Dissolve
The film plays like a companion piece to Usher, but one eager to push beyond its limits, particularly in its tinted flashback sequences. It also lets Price begin the film as a delicate gentleman and end it as a madman. - 80
Empire
A highly effective merging of star power (both in front and behind the camera) and finely honed horror sensibilities. - 80
The Telegraph
Watching this film as a child, the piercing image of Medina's wife Elizabeth's (Barbara Steele) wide eyes in the iron maiden stayed with me for years. - 75
TV Guide Magazine
Screenwriter Richard Matheson did a fine job of adapting Poe's rather limited (for films) short story by saving the dungeon sequences for the climax and then creating a rather interesting plot line to lead up to it. One of Corman's and AIP's best. - 70
The Guardian
Corman enhances the narrative with assorted shocks and tinted flashbacks reminiscent of the silent cinema. - 70
Variety
A physically stylish, imaginatively photographed horror film which, though needlessly corny in many spots, adds up to good exploitation.
