The Skull
Paramount Pictures Presents An Amicus Production
Restored by Legend Films
Starring Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Patrick Wymark, Nigel Green, Jill Bennett, George Coulouris, and Michael Gough
Directed by Freddie Francis
Screenplay by Milton Subotsky
Based on the story "The Skull of the Marquis de Sade" by Robert Bloch
Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. What can be said? They were inescapable if you were a fan of British-based horror films in the late 50's to the mid-70's. They gave horror a classy and proper feel that somehow just worked brilliantly mixed with the terror and supernatural that surrounded them. A British horror film just had something missing if either one or both of the fine actors weren't in it.
The Skull was no exception. Directed by Freddie Francis and based on a short story by Robert Bloch, The Skull tells us the tale of Dr. Christopher Maitland, who has a bizarre fascination with the study of the dark side of human nature and the occult. He studies murderers, strange books, world religions, and anything else he can get his hands on to further his knowledge of the supernatural. He is given the opportunity to purchase the skull of the Marquis de Sade, which has a reputation of anyone who owns it going mad, committing violent acts, and dying in some miserable fashion.
Enter Christopher Lee as Matthew Phillips. Phillips happens to be the former owner of The Skull and he is an associate of Dr. Maitland. They have known each other for years and it seems that they have a type of friendly competition between them over who can collect and gain the most knowledge of the occult and supernatural. Phillips tells Maitland to get rid of The Skull immediately because it has a strange power that even he, a scholar of the weird and supernatural, is afraid of and knows how it can have an unusually strange hold on it's owner.
Of course Maitland scoffs at this idea and shrugs off the danger and begins studying the diary of de Sade and his skull obsessively. As he digs deeper into the madness of the diary, he begins to feel the evil forces that The Skull hides within it. He must find a way to gain control of his sanity and life before he is completely overtaken and falls under the possession of The Skull.
Peter Cushing's performance as Dr. Christopher Maitland is brilliant and well-performed, as usual. I don't know how it was done in an 85 minute movie, but his descent into madness and insanity is very convincing and somehow doesn't seem rushed. You truly can feel the battle that he is fighting within himself to keep control and not give into the evil that is trying fiercely to overtake him.
Christopher Lee as Matthew Phillips brings his usual charm and class to the role. He acts as the warning or omen to Cushing's Maitland with a foreboding tone. He comes across as truly sincere in his portrayal of the calm and somber Phillips. He doesn't go over the top in telling Maitland that he needs to get rid of The Skull. He does it in a very matter-of-fact manner - almost like he knows that The Skull is going to win in the end, but he still has to try.
Freddie Francis' direction once again is great. He has that flair for bringing terror to you from things you don't see instead of things you do. His use of what I call "Skullvision" is very well done and gives you a sense that there really is more behind this seemingly inanimate object than meets the eye.
I always find it interesting that Amicus and Hammer were willing to touch on subjects that at the time were taboo or not talked about in society. The Skull far preceded Rosemary's Baby or The Exorcist of using the subject of Satanism and spiritualism outright in a movie about the battle between good and evil. Looking at it from a historical point of view, it just seemed like they got to the heart of the matter instead of just saying "evil" or "bad". It was like this is possessed by the devil and we have to find a way to not give in to temptation and fight the good fight. I'm not trying to come off spiritual or as some kind of religious flag-waver, I just think that at the time it was something that wasn't done in the mass media.
Overall, The Skull is definitely a worthy watch and I would suggest that you check it out. It has great atmosphere and a good story mixed with the talented legends of British horror. Also, don't miss the great Michael Gough (Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Horror of Dracula, the Batman movies, Sleepy Hollow) in a small role as an art auctioneer.
The digital transfer and cleanup were done extremely well by Legend Films. The picture is crisp and clean and the audio sounds great. I wish Legend could get their hands on every Amicus film and restore them for a giant box set. One can dream, can't they?
The Skull DVD Review
