Castle of Evil

On the surface, CASTLE OF EVIL is a movie about a bunch of people who are threatened my a business-suited robot (with a really bad skin condition) who promenades about the secret passages of a Gothic castle in Nassau (?!). But look again! The film features Scott "Journey to the Center of Time" Brady, Hugh "Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers" Marlowe, Lisa "House on Haunted Hill" Gaye, Virginia "I guess that blows this spook stuff!" Mayo, and last but certainly not least "Shelley Morrison" -- a stunning South American Indian-featured woman -- as "Natividad Esperanza", and her pet gecko-on-a-leash. Secret doors, native superstition, and Shelley at the surveillance console...the movie's a smorgasbord of cliches, bad reads and improbability, but it's great to see this wild assortment of actors ply their trade amidst the pseudo-gothic surroundings. And anyone who can tell us the real name of "Shelley Morrison" will get a heartfelt thank you for those of us who fell in love with her in close up.

One part Roger Corman Poe movie, one part "Ten Little Indians," and one part "Stagecoach," in that six disparate (but stereotypical) character types are thrown in together in a deadly situation, "Castle of Evil" is cheap, but not bad, if you go with it. Six suspects of the murder of a vindictive scientist are gathered together by the victim in his creepy castle and told to ferret out the killer among them; the others will then become heirs to the dead man's fortune. Except that the dead man may not be quite as dead as they think. Talky, static scenes are offset by some genuinely creepy moments. The cast of veterans is for the most part fine (Virginia Mayo as an aging working girl is the weak link) though it does look a bit like the horror version of one of those A.C. Lyles old-timer Westerns of the same era. An odd sci-fi angle fights the horror angle a bit, but not fatally so. Worth a look...if you can find it.

I only recently got a chance to see this again, last having seen it as a little kid. It's not breaking any new ground but I think it stands as a good example of the 'Old Dark House' variety spook movie. The technical aspects are the weak spot here, it's blandly lit and everything is presented in a matter-of-fact way... sucking out most of the atmosphere (but not all). The actors all do a good job with the minimal writing. I was particularly taken with Virginia Mayo who seemed to actually be enjoying it somewhat.

NO, it's not really scary... but it's got a mood to it and a few creepy moments that kept me watching... and frankly it's more entertaining that most of the bottom-shelf stuff I find on Amazon lately.

I had originally seen this on creature features on channel 5 in new jersey and back then it was scary,recently re watched it on you tube,in a very well recreated creature features with commercials.just like i remembered it,a creepy old chiller.back in the day this was scary.old castle,secret doors,a ghoul,and yes a player piano.with some good actors in it led by the late great Scott Brady(destination inner space)Lisa Gaye(shake rattle and rock)Virginia Mayo(white heat)and Hugh Marlowe(day the earth stood still)i enjoyed this little horror flick even though its no masterpiece and not as good as the original house on haunted hill.but it does have its moments.they don't make them like this anymore and if they tried remaking it there would be lots of overdone cg effects,6 pout of 10.

I saw this movie years ago on wnew TVs creature features in New Jersey . The basic plot people get bumped off one by one in a gothic castle by a robotic monster that resembles a dead man who made sure he would get revenge on those responsible for his death . A solid b movie cast Scott Brady , Virginia mayo , Hugh Marlow , lisa Gaye , Back in 1966 this was scary , by today's standards it's pretty tame compared to slasher movies. Good soundtrack and good performances . A lady caretaker with a pet anole lizard who watches on a tv monitor and controls the zombie robot creature that kills and seems unstoppable. It's a good b movie ftom the 1966.