User reviews

My main reason for seeing this film was the fact that it's on the Redemption label. Redemption films are often not all that good, but they have great cult value and are usually worth seeking out. Of course, Barbara Steele offered up another reason for watching - but still, my expectations for this film weren't very high. After the first twenty minutes, however, my low expectations turned into hopefulness; as I prayed that the remaining eighty minutes would be as great as the first twenty! The film grabs you instantly with it's combination of crisp black and white photography, morbid subject material, Gothic locations and a score courtesy of the great Ennio Morricone. The film is pure cult class, which really doesn't let up until the final credits role. The plot follows a man who, after finding his wife with another man, proceeds to torture them both. However, she takes the upper hand when she lets him know that all of her wealth has been left not to him - but to her imbecile sister! Our protagonist isn't taking this lying down, however, and it isn't long before he's returning to the castle with a new bride…

Just like she did in Mario Bava's masterpiece "Black Sunday", Barbara Steele takes on a dual role. Despite being obviously the same actress, it's easy to buy into the fact that she's playing too different characters. Her roles are suitably different, and she plays them both to perfection. Steele is often passed off as merely a horror film actress; but she really does have talent. The rest of the cast's performance is marred somewhat by some really awful dubbing and a script that isn't much better, but it doesn't matter too much because the focus of the film is never on the acting - it's clearly on the atmosphere. The plot gives way to a beautiful set of locations; the lushly Gothic castle photographed in the same cinematic style as the best black and white films that Italian cinema has to offer. At times, the film is incoherent and the plot doesn't always flow well; but it doesn't matter much, because there is always enough of the style element to ensure that the film remains interesting. The fact that the plotting isn't soaked with silly jump moments and out of place imagery makes me love the film even more; as it's clear that the director cares more about delivering story and atmosphere rather than simply trying to scare the audience. On the whole; the film has flown under more than a few radars, but that's unfair as it's damn good! Take that as a recommendation.

A mad scientist finds his wife cheating on him with the butler. After torturing them with electric shock and other gruesome methods (whippings, beatings) he finally kills them. But to get the inheritance from his wife's family, he has to marry her lunatic sister who is now cursed with the spirit of his dead wife. On top of this, we have an old women who remains young with the blood of the dead wife, who feels the dried and cold blood inside her.

Sounds good, right? And it is. The only thing that could have been better was the dubbing from Italian to English, but after the first five minutes you hardly notice anymore. The black and white really sets a mood and the fact the blood is black (because it can't be red) makes it seem even more sinister than it had to be.

Luca Palmerini calls this one an "elegantly executed story of love after death." Director Mario Caiano (under the name Allan Grunewald) is upstaged the same year by Mario Bava's "Planet of the Vampires", though I daresay the former is better. "Vampires" is given too much credit, while this film (and "Terror Creatures From the Grave") are forgotten. Caiano has said that Barbara Steele had a face that was "elusive and obscure", and was "an introverted sort of person." Considering her mythical status, even at the time, this may strike the viewer as odd. It sure seemed odd to me! And let us not forget the classic, creepy organ music by Ennio Morricone.

The Madacy DVD claims to be "digitally remastered", but is in the same poorly lit, grainy black and white as always. A better copy would surely improve this film's legacy. (Caiano had intended the film to be in black, white and red!) Interestingly, when you put the disc in a computer, it claims to be "Last Man on Earth".

I'm beginning to grow more fond of old horror films, especially with my disillusionment with modern horror. And this film is one of the better old horror films I've found. Recommended for those who are sick of Hollywood pumping horror films out for little girls.

All right, the writing is something to be desired, but this movie is so richly photographed and the great '60's Scream Queen Barbara Steele is so alluring that it hardly matters. This movie uses Steele to full advantage, and even casts the sultry, sinister star in a dual role, much like Mario Bava's classic BLACK SUNDAY. Babs stars as a faithless wife who, along with her lover, is tortured to death by her vengeful-husband. However, her hubby finds that this may not have been the great revenge he thought it would be because his wife left her inheritance to her mentally unbalanced sister(Steele again, this time in a blonde wig). Of course, being the sadistic, money-hungry, conniving little swine that he is, he decides to marry his sister-in-law, and drive her to complete hysteria so he can commit her to the local loony bin and claim the family fortune for himself. Naturally, things don't go exactly as planned, but I won't give the rest of this weird little gem away. Shown in the US in a severely cut version that is so butchered, it's hardly worth watching. The original full-length European version is rare, but definitely worth seeking out.

"Nightmare Castle" aka "The Faceless Monster" aka "Night of the Doomed" aka "Lovers Beyond the Grave" - whatever name you call the film it is a good Gothic horror Italian film.

The copy of the film I have is dubbed in the English language quite good. It was hard to tell the film's language is in Italian so that is a credit to film's dubbers.

The movie itself is quite fun and interesting to watch. We have a large creepy house, ghosts, a mad doctor, Jenny who is a woman seemingly going mad, greed, lust, revenge & murder - all are the makings for a good horror film.

I have to say this IS a ghost film but the ghosts seem similar to zombies because they can be touched and pushed so I guess they can materialize and solidify their bodies into flesh again. Quite wicked these ghosts are towards those that have wronged them.

BTW, Barbra Steele is good in this as usual. She play two roles with two very different personalities quite well: Muriel Arrowsmith / Jenny Arrowsmith.

This film is one of those popcorn-flicks to watch on a "dark and stormy night". It's a very good b-rated Gothic horror.

7/10

Above average Italian horror movie with chills , thrills , surprises , atmospheric sets and scary happenings . A genuinely creepy tale , competently musicalized , well photographed , filled with lights and shades , reflecting paleness the victims . It deals with a sadistic count and crazy doctor (Paul Muller) tortures his unfaithful wife (Barbara Steele) and her lover (Rik Battaglia) , but then things go awry . Years later, the count remarries and the new wife (Barbara Steele herself) experiences nightmares and hauntings . In time , the perturbed ghosts appear and seek vengeance , causing a real nightmare .The eerie ghosts of the slain go back to exact their bloody and lethal vendetta , until their hearts are destroyed. A mad, sadistic scientist on the loose! So weird! ...So shocking! Do YOU dare see it! WARNING! See it with someone who's shockproof!

Enjoyable terror movie revolving around the house haunted plot , a scientific laboratory with its insane doctor and a relentless vengeance with plenty of ghosts , scary appearances formed by preternatural beings , creepy murders and ghastly events . Set at the ordinary ghastly mansion where happens scabrous and horrifying events . In spite of a few escenarios and its low budget the picture is pretty well , thanks to the adequate filmmaking , stunning cinematography taking great use of lights and shades as well as camera positioning to complement appropriate horror set pieces . Surprisingly realized with startling visual content and decently scripted by Fabio De Agostini and director Mario Caiano himself , resulting in an attractive horror movie with sensational atmosphere . Great Barbara Steele , here become a terror myth . As Barbara Steele is splendid , as always , she was the most beautiful star of the greatest horror masterpiece of Italian film, Mario Bava's Black Sunday or Mask of the demon (1960) , after following its American success, AIP brought Barbara to America, to star in Roger Corman's The Pit and thee Pendulum (1961) , she won a role in Federico Fellini's Fellini 8½ (1963); she only had a small role, but it was memorable. Reportedly, Fellini wanted to use her more in the film, but she was contracted to leave Rome to start work on her next horror movie, The horrible secret of doctor Hitchcock (1962). More horror movies followed, such as Lo spettro (1963), Nightmare Castle (1964), Un angelo per Satana (1966) and others; this success lead to her being typecast in the horror genre, where she more often than not appeared in Italian movies with a dubbed voice. Appearing in The Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968), which was mainly eye candy, with scantily-clad women in a cult. Unfortunately, Barbara got sick of being typecast in horror movies . Here Steele is well accompanied by a fine cast as Paul Muller who gives a nice acting as jealous mad scientist murders his wife and her lover , removing their hearts from their bodies, as well as Rik Battaglia as the unfortunate lover , Helga Liné as the mysterious Solangeas , Giuseppe Addobbati or John McDouglas as a butler and Marino Masé as Dr. Dereck.

Displaying a thrilling and frightening musical score by the great veteran maestro Ennio Morricone to have a long career . It contains a dark and sinister cinematography in black and white by Enzo Barboni , future succesful director of Spaghetti Westers in the hits starred by Terence Hill and Bud Spencer . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Mario Caiano . Rating 7/10. Essential and fundamental seeing for horror lovers. The picture will appeal to Italian Gothic aficionados. And Barbara Steele fans .

I first saw this in the 80s on a rented vhs. Revisited it few days back. The film is about a scientist (Paul Muller) who tortures his wife (Barbara Steele) n her lover after catchin em red handed with the aid of his old n haggard maid (Helga Liné, much more attractive than Steele). The torturous punishment is only an excuse. The real motif is to usurp's the wife's property n spend time with the maid who turns very young n attractive after a blood transfusion. Told ya. Things turn bad for the scientist as the wife informs him that she had made her step sister (Barabara Steele in a double role) the nominee of the property.....

The isolated castle with its huge rooms appeared eerie, the atmosphere towards the end with the rainfall n the acting were the only good aspects. The ending seemed rushed, the ghosts weren't spooky, there is implausibility which will make one scratch their head n the stupidity shown/done by a scientist is beyond belief.

Muriel (Steele) is all excited about her husband Steven leaving their creepy Scottish Mansion for business, because that means she can get busy with the gardener David! Sadly, Steven has watched a copy of previous Steele film The Ghost and knows that Steele + Lover + Greenhouse = Infidelity. So it's spousal revenge time! I'd say that chaining them up, torturing them, then removing their hearts might be just a tad too far to be honest, but that's what Steven does. His old woman sidekick Solange is also there to help out, as every murderous cuckold can't get all the heart removing done by himself.

Some time later, Steven is now married to Jenny, Muriel's twin sister (Steele, only with blonde hair this time). Now Jenny seems to have spent some time in a mental institution and Steven's had to marry her because he needs get a hold of all her and Muriel's money. Solange (who is also Steven's lover, I should have said) is a bit concerned that the whole stealing money plan isn't moving forward so fast. Also, Solange looks at least twenty years younger in this scene. What have they done to Solange? Being mentally unstable and living in a giant creepy mansion, Jenny at once starts to see things, hear things, and act like her dead sister. So it's up to you - are Steven and Solange trying to drive her mad to have her committed and gain her fortune? Have Muriel and David returned from the dead to get revenge? Is the visiting doctor in league with Jenny for some reason. You'll have to watch to find out.

But to be honest you'll be better watching the version that's twenty minutes shorter, because I don't think the 1h 44m version I watched really improves things somewhat. Compared to the other 600 or so Italian Gothic horror films I've watched recently, this one drags a bit, but then again the talents of Steele and Muller and the music of Morricone save this from being a total bore-fest. There are moments of suspense too, and please note I did try to watch this while trying to get two kids into bed and while my wife was watching TV too loud in the background.

In a nutshell, scream queen Barbara Steele (Black Sunday, "The Winds of War", "War and Remembrance") get caught dallying with her lover and is tortured by her husband (Paul Muller).

She plays her step-sister in a dual role, and her ex has to figure out how to get their money.

The film features a great score by Ennio Morricone.

The atmosphere is terrific and the movie is suspenseful. Steele does great as the dual vixen/mentally unstable and naive role.

Despite all his machinations, her husband is no match for Muriel (Steele). She gets her revenge.

'Night Of The Doomed' is an excellent Gothic thriller, full of mystery, atmosphere and chills. The stunning Barbara Steele, arguably the most beautiful Scream Queen of all, plays a duel role as an unfaithful wife, who is tortured and murdered by her scientist husband (Jess Franco regular Paul Muller), and the wife's mentally fragile sister. Muller marries the sister in an attempt to keep his hands on his late wife's fortune, needing the money to help finance his experiments. His new bride finds herself going through some increasingly strange experiences, which unbeknown to her seem to be caused by her dead sister's attempts at revenge from beyond the grave. This is a first rate example of a melodramatic supernatural thriller. Steele and Muller are both excellent and well cast, and their performances added to the stylish black and white photography, and an above average Morricone score, make this is a real treat for fans of Italian horror and giallo.

Caught having an affair, "Muriel Arrowsmith" (Barbara Steele) and her lover "David" (Rik Battaglia) are tortured and killed by her angry and sadistic husband "Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith" (Paul Muller). Further, as it so happens Dr. Arrowsmith is also a scientist who is working on a project which rejuvenates the elderly housemaid "Solange" (Helga Line) into something young and beautiful. After killing Muriel, Dr. Arrowsmith then marries her half-sister, "Jenny" (also Barbara Steele) and because of her frail mental condition tries to push her over the edge so that he can claim the family inheritance from both her and Muriel. What he doesn't count on is the fact that the hallucinations that Jenny sees may be real. At any rate, rather than spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this is a pretty good horror movie for this particular time period. Not only is the acting good by everyone involved but along with that both Barbara Steele and Helga Line are also quite pleasing to the eyes. It is filmed in black and white which may be a turn-off for some folks. Likewise, the story has several developments at the end which might be hard to figure out if you're not paying attention. But all things considered I enjoyed this film and I think most people who like movies of this sort will appreciate it as well.

I'm sure I have seen this before but it would have been the shorter public domain version and not this splendid full length and splendid condition Severin print. Now it is possible to enjoy this super creepy, Gothic horror in all its splendour. Morricone music is a bonus, apparently his first horror score, the cinematography is also good and the very best is made of the splendid mansion that forms the set for most of the movie. Needless to say, Barbara Steele is great throughout in both her roles although she looks better with her natural dark hair than the blond. Full tilt beginning and although some feel this gets a bit wordy in the middle, it was fine by me and didn't seem to let up at all. I was a bit dismayed when it seemed the was going to turn into one of those, 'drive the wife mad movies' but it is much more than that and indeed is surprisingly graphic with electrolysis and blood transfusions. Helga Line also does well but has tough opposition with Steele taking most scenes.

This is a lousy film--whether or not it stars 60s cult movie favorite Barbara Steele or not. If you want to see a good movie done by Ms. Steele, see "Black Sunday" and not this confusing mess of a film.

I think the biggest problem with this movie is that the plot and continuity of the characters was totally irrelevant to the writers. Instead, it seemed that every so often they tossed scary scenes into the film and made no effort to integrate them into the plot or have the characters' actions make sense. The randomness of the scares and the randomness of the behaviors of the actors just betrayed bad writing. Now as for the gross scenes, they really weren't THAT bad (especially by today's standards) but they just seemed like a cheap attempt to scare the audience. Hearts get ripped out and stuck inside statues (why?), ghosts become alive at the end and go on killing sprees (why?) and the bodies of the first wife and her lover are cremated and an empty coffin is buried (again, why?). None of these behaviors have been set up or explained in any way. The worst example was probably the sociopathic husband--one minute he seemed to love and genuinely care for his new wife and the next he's draining out her blood to give to his lady friend (whose character never really is explained or hashed out). The bottom line is that people reacted in the film instead of had a chance to act--making them seem cardboard and like people working in a carnival spook house.

So if you think that random scares, cheesy special effects and a totally convoluted plot make for a great film, give this one a try. But as for me, these factors plus sloppy dubbing (instead of subtitles) make this one eminently worth skipping.

In the Nineteenth Century, In Italy, the wealthy Muriel Arrowsmith (Barbara Steele) is married to Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith (Paul Muller) in a loveless marriage. They live in an ancient castle and Stephen spends most of his time researching in his laboratory in the basement. When Stephen tells that he would travel during the night, Muriel meets her lover David (Rik Battaglia) in the greenhouse. However, the servant Solange (Helga Liné) warns Stephen that returns unexpectedly and sees them both making love. He locks them in chains in the dungeon and tortures them to death, keeping their hearts in a tank and cremating their bodies. Stephen expects to inherit Muriel's fortune, but she had changed her will in favor of her half-sister, Jenny that is interned in a mental institution under the treatment of Dr. Dereck Joyce (Marino Masé). However, Stephen plots a scheme to marry Jenny, drive her crazy and keep Muriel's fortune for him, with the support of his lover Solange.

"Amanti d'oltretomba", a.k.a. "Nightmare Castle", is an atmospheric and macabre Italian gothic horror movie. The first point to highlight is Barbara Steele in two lead roles, great as usual. Paul Muller is also scary in his sadistic and evil role of an ambitious scientist. The black-and-white cinematography with shadows is another plus in this film. The location, costumes and scenarios are also magnificent. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Amor de Vampiros" ("Love of Vampires")

Barbara Steele has two roles in this somewhat ridiculous thriller that takes the plot of, of all things, The Corpse Vanishes and mixes it up with, of all things, Gaslight, to form a mishmash of different styles, some of it works, some of it doesn't.

After killing his newlywed wife after finding her with the Gardner, Dr. Arrowsmith (played quite chillingly by Paul Miller), almost the next day, weds her lookalike sister, just to have a hold on the huge estate his ex-newlywed had. You see, her sister has just come out of the loony bin, and the doctor feels he can make her mad and have her committed, that way she's out of the picture, and he can frolic with his true love, Solange, a woman who needs solution so that she can remain eternally young, otherwise she'll revert back to being an old lady (why on earth did the doctor fall in love with her in the first place?). So the doctor and Solange put on the haunted house show to freak out the twin sister, and soon a doctor from the hospital is called. But soon, the doctor and the sister realize some strange things about the doctor, and if the house is truly haunted or not.

Although the plot is somewhat ridiculous, and the dubbing atrocious, Barbara Steele IS easy on the eyes, and Paul Miller is quite fun to watch. So a passing mark on those two alone! The rest, and yes, that includes the plot, you're on your own.

Laughable dialogue doesn't detract too much from this moody, sometimes disturbing Italian Gothic. The story seems to be loosely adapted from an M.R. James ghost story called "Lost Hearts". Although the torture scenes in the uncut version are remarkably strong for their time, there are other things that are more disquieting. Most hideous of all is the character of Solange, the maid, whose youth has been restored by a dead woman's blood. When she speaks of how the blood grows cold and heavy in her veins, it's a very unsettling moment. The black-and-white photography is beautifully atmospheric. Ennio Morricone's music is more conventional than usual -- especially the mazurka that represents Muriel, which is too simple and sentimental for a Barbara Steele character... but the tremendous Fugue for organ which dominates the soundtrack deserves special mention. In spite of its lapses, and with apologies to Mario Bava, this is still my favorite Italian Gothic horror film!

This is known as "Nightmare Castle" in the U. S. The version I saw had such terrible dubbing that it took time to get into it. As I watched, it started to grow on me. There have been other films and TV shows that used the premise that to keep one person alive, you need to kill and use the blood or parts of someone else. This doesn't do to badly. The acting and presences of the main characters is pretty good. It has the House of Usher quality of a man coming to the castle to see if he can help the people there. He, of course, falls in love with the young woman who is being gaslighted by her husband so he will get her fortune. Mixed into all this is a strange woman named Solange, who has some power over the good doctor. She is the recipient of the blood. Unfortunately, the doctor has killed his wife and her lover, and they hold forth in the castle, getting in the way of his plans. It certainly sounds silly, but the shadows and dark images of the castle actually work. This is a suspenseful, actually pretty scary film.

Usually I like Barbara Steele's movies, but Mario Caiano's "Amanti d'oltretomba" ("Nightmare Castle" in English) is a little too slow-moving. Steele plays the wife of a scientist who looks like a cross between Christopher Plummer, Donald Sutherland and Benjamin Netanyahu. He kills her after discovering that she's having an affair, only to learn that she left her money to her sister. More shocks follow.

The cinematography and setting create a very eerie feeling, and I can forgive the lousy dubbing, but the movie is just too slow-moving. This isn't a terrible movie, but I wish that it had gotten to the main story quicker than it did. Still, Barbara Steele looks great, as always.