The Skull

"The Skull (from a story by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho) is a fearsome, finely acted and moody tale of Gothic horror. The skull of the Marquis de Sade has been taken from its grave, bringing terror to those who own it. Demonologist Christopher Maitland (Peter Cushing) is eager to add the piece to his occult collection. Despite warnings of a friend (Christopher Lee), he's got to have it. And does he ever get it.

When the Skull strikes you'll Scream!"

Before the Marquis de Sade became portrayed as some sort of great romantic libertarian who was horribly persecuted, he was regarded as a perverted evil man who had a penchant for exceptional cruelty and humiliation (not necessarily consensual), paedophilia, incest, a debaser of virtue and for writing pornography of the most depraved kind. Well it takes all sorts and for one reason or other Dr. Christopher Maitland wants de Sade's skull for his collection of occult objet d'art and he will do anything to get it.

The skull had been acquired from the grave many years earlier by a phrenologist, who shortly after obtaining it died an untimely death. I suppose you could say he was bumped off and the skull had been floating around ever since. Anyway, the skull is offered to Dr. Christopher Maitland by a shady dealer in antiquities known as Marco, who came by the item after it had been 'lifted' from Sir Matthew Phillips' collection. Christopher and Matthew are good friends and as the pair are chatting over a game of billiards, Matthew remarks that he is not at all bothered that the skull had been stolen from him and that Christopher should steer well clear of it, as it is very powerful and dangerous. Even after all the warnings and stories of its power to corrupt Christopher Maitland still wants the crazy cranium for himself, but how far will he go to obtain the skull of the Marquis de Sade and at what price to his sanity?

Although the body count is on the low side, it is still an effective psychological horror that works on our innate fear of madness and possession by evil influences. Freddie Francis directs a highly atmospheric voyage into madness, which for the most part is successful and is acted exceptionally well by Peter Cushing in the lead as the crazed Dr. Maitland. The Skull is not perfect by any means, even with its relatively short running time of just over 1 hour 20 minutes it feels like the story has been stretched out to make it into a feature length movie. The scenes where the skull floats around are unnecessary as it would have been far more effective to just have it appear here and there without explanation.

Leaving aside its failings The Skull is a very enjoyable old style British horror.

This movie is hard to get a hold of, it still hasn't made it to DVD but you may find a copy on video if you look around a bit.

Reviewed: 12/04/07

Memorabilia

Freddie Francis' Obituary (Telegraph)
Dostoevsky vs. the Marquis de Sade

• Movies

Quills (2000)
Torture Garden (1967)
The Screaming Skull (1958)
Nightmare (1964)
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)
The Psychopath (1966)
The Creeping Flesh (1973)
Tales That Witness Madness (1973)
Asylum (1972)
Psycho (1960)
The Ninth Gate (1999)

• Television

Screaming Skull (1973)

• Literature

The Skull of the Marquis de Sade, Robert Bloch
The Haunting of Toby Jugg, Dennis Wheatley