Don't let the low budget and no-name production throw you. This is a very effective and downright grim little thriller mixing military themes with horror elements -- always one of my favorite combos. Just the sheer horror of war itself is guaranteed to conjure up some things that go bump in the night, my favorites being the British DEATHWATCH from 2002, Michael Mann's THE KEEP (1987) and of course George A. Romero's overlooked THE CRAZIES (1973). It's a potent combo when done right, I'm surprised we don't see more of it.
What DEATHWATCH did turning the trenches of the Western Front into a sprawling haunted death house this one does using the actual former US military bases on Corregidor (I believe part is shot inside Battery Geary itself -- search the name on Wiki sometime) to tell the story of an emotionally scarred veteran who returns to his old garrison's post twenty five years later, after having fled under the stress of combat fatigue as a young soldier. Just seeing the remnants of the old military base is impressively eerie. The director chose his locations marvelously, the whole film is seeped with ill-ease and old rumors or echoes of men in their death throes as they were battered into oblivion.
Or, trapped below to languish & die in claustrophobic darkness. The film uses light as a motif and the darkness of the surrounding ruins is oppressive; You can imagine even the hardiest of men loosing their nerve and fleeing in terror. Our returning veteran finds that the depths of the vaulted keep is not quite as uninhabited as the local Fillipino army officer tour guide may insist. He even links up with a charming, innocent young local hottie who comes along on his voyage, and she's a good screamer. Though ultimately he meets his fate by himself, yet not quite alone. It is a very effective little psychological ghost story that just happens to utilize a setting with a rich history of horror all of its own.
The print I saw was courtesy of Something Weird Video on a VHS, apparently the film was made for television as there were spots for commercial breaks worked into the film's editing. And as a mid 60s television production you can nix anything like graphic violence or sexuality, here's a movie that works without it, with the whole production definitely having a Rod Serling-esquire feel to it. The B&W picture actually added a depth of creepiness to the proceedings though the transfer itself was made from a poor quality 16mm print. The film deserves better treatment.
But I felt enriched for having seen it in whatever form (and good luck finding a copy). Here's a great example of how tight writing combined with a keen sense for location work can result in a gripping little movie for almost no budget at all that can actually result in a well-earned nightmare or two.
7/10
