The 50s were quieter for Boris Karloff when it came to horror films but things started heating up towards the end of the decade. This was one of two he made in Britain with director Robert Day. It’s a very sensible horror film, if that makes sense – it is well structured, has a strong support cast, the story proceeds logically, there is a historical background and impressive production design.
It lacks a little delirious magic of the classics but it was enjoyable and Karloff delivers a strong performance: he's a politically active novelist in 19th century England who becomes convinced a man executed for committing a series of crimes was in fact innocent. During the investigation he seems to become possessed by the man and starts killing - Karloff twists up his face and becomes an entirely separate character.
His fans may throw bricks at me but I don't think Karloff was that great an actor - his lumbering delivery here means the dialogue takes a while to get across - but he had tremendous presence and was a genuine star. He's the best reason to see this - that and the production design.
Adding to the fun are some scenes at a dancing hall, Anthony Dawson as a nasty looking detective, and Jean Kent hamming it up. The juveniles are dull (surprise). Well directed by Robert Day, whose version of She I always liked.
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