The first AIP/Corman/Poe cycle produced three different types: the straight up studio dramas, the comedies and the English productions, which comprised this and Tomb of Ligeia. Filming across the Atlantic enabled the production value to be improved no end - this film looks fantastic, with actually a decent number of supporting actors and quite a few extras. (Dan Haller was let loose on the set for Becket).Most of this is terrific - the opening sequence where we see the Red Death, Vincent Price's excellent performance in the lead, the awesome production design, all the stuff involving Hazel Court and satanic rituals, Corman's direction, the flowing camera work, the use of colour. Jane Asher is pretty but a little dull as the good girl who Price brings to his castle in order to molest (such roles are impossible to play, really, and Asher, though attractive, isn't quite enough to make you understand why Price wouldn't stick with Court).
This is the first really 100% villainous role Price played in a Poe film - normally his characters were just possessed or tricked - and he's excellent; so to is Court and Patrick Magee. Less good is the feisty male juvenile (though his part isn't very big).
The script is mostly effective but there is a middle section where it feels like nothing much is happening, just people walking around or Price taking a passive Asher around the castle. And sometimes you can't help but giggle at the orgy. Still, a marvellous work and an indicator of what Corman could do with time and money. He would soon show, however, that he basically was too impatient to go to the next level.
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