Saturday 31 October 2009

CASTLE FREAK (1995)

I had been saving this for my Halloween viewing. Cerpts did a very positive review over in THE LAND OF CERPTS AND HONEY and I'm a big fan of the same director (Stuart Gordon)'s other Lovecraft adaption, DAGON (although to call this a Lovecraft adaption is ridiculous) but I was bitterly disappointed and quickly lost interest in the tiresome guilt ridden American family who inherit a castle in Italy. Of course there is something nasty in the dungeon. Cerpts put forward some interesting psychological points but if they held any water I'd totally past the point of caring. Lots of screams in the night and endless wandering down corridors and staircases. As with many modern horror films that lack a supernatural element this one resorts to some particularly nasty physical horror and a heavy helping of exceedingly unpleasant sexual violence. I lasted about an hour when I decided I could find something better to do. Rating *

3 comments:

Cerpts said...

Now hold on there, buckaroo! I wouldn't say I gave it a "VERY" positive review. If I may paraphrase my ultimate conclusion, I said it wasn't the best Lovecraft movie but it wasn't the worst. So basically, I would call my official opinion of CASTLE FREAK as "Eh". And I am unanimous in that! I must admit that the movie must've caught me on a particularly good day since I was quite easy on it. I didn't dislike it nearly as much as you did but I wouldn't want it to get around that I was some kinda CASTLE FREAK booster. What would my parents think? In fact, what would H.P.'s parents think?!? All in all, if given the choice between CASTLE FREAK and DAGON, I would overwhelmingly urge anyone to choose the latter: definitely Stuart Gordon's BEST Lovecraft adaptation!

But enough of that foolishness. . .


. . .what's your shirt size???? Your "I HEART CASTLE FREAK" T-shirt is on its way!!!!

Weaverman said...

Good grief! If I thought I'd get a CASTLE FREAK T-shirt (as large as the come!) I'd have given it a rave review - as Alan Freed would've aid "Payola ain't dead around here!" All film producers please take note : I can be bought.

Cerpts said...

Wow, what'll you do for a Mickey Spillane night light?!?!?