Director: Ray Cameron
Writers: Ray Cameron & Barry Cryer
Starring: Kenny Everett, Vincent Price, Pamela Stephenson, Gareth Hunt, John Fortune, Don Warrington, Barry Cryer
Taglines: “The movie it took a lot of guts to make!”
SYNOPSIS
A diverse group of scientists converge on Headstone Manor, which was the site of a massacre years before. However, they soon start to fall victim to the forces responsible for the original massacre. Among these is a mysterious power wielded by Vincent Price and his satanic worshipping minions.
REVIEW
When I finally got to see this movie a few years ago following its belated DVD release, I was somewhat disappointed. As a horror spoof starring some of the cream of the time’s British TV comedy talent (including Everett, one of my favourites as a kid), a cameo by Vincent Price and a wide range of targets from slasher movies to black magic cult movies, this should have been a gem of a movie. I remember seeing the video cover in my local video stores as a kid, but somehow missed it.
Sadly, the movie tends to miss the mark by quite a large margin in most of its scenes. While it’s obvious where they wanted to go with this – wildly spoofing every movie from The Haunting to Friday The 13th while spoofing every tired genre convention (e.g. the tavern scene with sceptical/fearful natives), it’s rather too broad to be funny. I had the strange feeling while watching this that while I knew where I should have been laughing, I simply wasn’t.
That’s not to say it’s all bad. Vincent Price offers his usual high class presence in what would be his final appearance in a British film. There are a few jokes that hit home quite well, such as a decapitation by a can opener in a Carrie-inspired flashback. However, for every one like that, there’s jokes that completely fall flat or actually become slightly offensive, such a the scene where a woman is raped by an invisible man, but soon enjoys it…
Then there’s the structure. The film is very messy, starting almost serious before going to a simple series of sketches by the time they reach the mansion. Entire characters are there simply as jokes, and most of these quickly outstay their welcome, from the blind man to the unambiguously gay couple.
A massive disappointment, and although it’s certainly worth a watch for fans of either Everett or British TV comedy of the era as a whole, don’t expect much.
Rating: 
TRAILER