Theater of Blood

There's a lot of commentary on this film here; however, I want to draw attention to the use of dream structure in this movie. People that appeared normal to the victims at first are suddenly balding, idiotic savages. A man looks to a policeman for aid and the audience suddenly notices that his face is not entirely real. The experiences of the victim of Lionheart (Price's character in this movie) each resemble a dream suddenly turned nightmare. It was a very effective device for a horror movie.

this movie is essential for anyone even marginally interested in film. vincent price gives one of the best performances of his career as the embittered edward lionheart, a shakespearean stage actor who has been unjustly disinherited by theatre as a result of the brutal criticism that his work generated. lionheart, disaffected and without hope of ever returning to the work he loves so much, decides to take justice in his own hands and the result is the most brilliant blend of horror and satire that i have ever seen. usually, horror and comedy do not mix well and nine times out of ten the results are less than impressive, but in this one it comes off beautifully. the question of whether we are supposed to sympathize with price's character or revile him as a bloodthirsty maniac has been much debated by fans of the film, but in my opinion it is obvious that it is the critics we are intended to hate and not lionheart, although his methods of retribution are admittedly a bit over the top. like the equally magnificent "dr. phibes", "theater of blood" explores not only the common theme of homicidal revenge but the idea of 'murder as art', as can be witnessed in the bizarre methods that lionheart uses:look especially for the scene where a particularly unfortunate enemy of price's is dragged to death by a horse in what looks like something out of a play by good old willy himself. also memorable is the scene in which price and his accomplice (his daughter, usually in a very deceptive disguise)feed an especially nasty critic his favorite poodle. the ending is, of course, very theatrical, and yet at the same time extremely funny and satirical. i've never seen a film quite like "theater of blood" before or since, and i doubt i will again. in any case this is a must see whether you are vincent price fan (like myself) or a casual viewer looking for something out of the ordinary. a masterpiece.

Vincent Price is at his extravagant best in this splendidly black comedy in which some complacent critics receive a cunning come-uppance from the dreadful actor who they drove to suicide. Some brilliantly staged imaginative deaths are the icing on the cake, making this a bit like a very camp "Friday The 13th". But who wouldn't rather watch Vincent at his best than boring old Jason ?

This film is frightening, funny,stomach churning, and Vincent Price at his menacing best if you get a chance do watch it with actors like Robert Morley,Jack Hawkings,Diana Dors, Arthur Lowe, Diana Rigg and the way he plots his revenge for there critics of his acting which distroyed his career the Robert Morley one especially I will never forget that scene if I knew this film was on DVD I would love to have it but it's one of those classics that won't be on TV much now unless they have a Vincent Price season or something,I remember sitting there with my family and tucking into a box of chocolates after the Robert Morley killing least to say we got turned of them but we we fall about laughing about it now

A Tour de Force for Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood! Price plays a gothic Shakespearean actor who begins to slay all of the critics responsible for not giving him the best actor honours for the year. Price kills each in the style and spirit of a Shakespeare play. Each is killed with a generous dose of witty, dark black humour. The whole cast is superb as is the writing. A special treat is the performance of Robert Morley as a motherly critic forced to eat his doggies(babies) baked in a pie ala Titus Andronicus. A must see for Price fans.