Made in 1965 under the direction of Mario Caiano, Nightmare Castle is a gothic ghost story with elements of vampirism and mad science. Like much of Italian cinema, Nightmare Castle also has a sadistic streak, and although the movie may seem tame by today’s standards, it probably caused some controversy here in the USA when it was originally released.
The film showcases the immortal Barbara Steele, who plays the role of two sisters. The older sister is Muriel, who is married to Count Stephen Arrowsmith (Paul Muller), who also happens to be a mad doctor experimenting with blood and electricity and its effects on possible immortality and age reversal. When Arrowsmith catches Muriel in the arms of their groundskeeper David, he captures, tortures, and eventually murders both of them. As if that were not enough, Arrowsmith removes their still-beating hearts, preserving them in a vat of liquid fueled by electricity.
It turns out that Arrowsmith is not the wealthy one, but rather the sisters. To ensure he can continue to live his extravagant lifestyle, the count seduces and marries Jenny (Steele), Muriel’s sister who is recovering from a mental breakdown. Arrowsmith’s real love happens to be the castle’s maid, Solange (Helga Line), an old woman who Arrowsmith makes young again with his diabolical experiments.
The bulk of the film involves the haunting of Jenny, who is aided by her psychiatrist, Dr. Dereck Joyce (Laurence Clift). The two eventually discover Arrowsmith’s scheme and the fact that the only way to destroy the ghosts of Muriel and her lover is to find and destroy their still-beating hearts.
As always, Barbara Steele is a joy to behold on the screen, her eyes captivating and her presence actually lifting the movie when it seems to falter. And falter the film does, as there are simply too many thematic elements that are left unexplored. For example, the rejuvenation of Solange goes nowhere, with science fiction elements abandoned soon after the film begins (only to return later, but altered from what has come before). Arrowsmith’s interest in rejuvenation also has no logic, other than he’s a mad scientist. And then there are Joyce’s quick deductions about ghosts—would a psychiatrist be that readily gullible with respect to the supernatural?
The cinematography throughout Nightmare Castle is splendid, evoking plenty of gothic atmosphere. Special effects are minimal but effective, but the music at times is a bit jarring. The acting is solid, although there are some melodramatic moments that will annoy most viewers.
Fans of Barbara Steele will enjoy this movie, as well fans of old-school gothic horror. Hardcore and gore fans will find little of interest here.
This movie is part of 50 Movies: Horror Classics, a collection of 50 horror movies on DVD that feature Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and many more. It’s available for only $13.49 at Amazon!
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