Second Sight Films, out 29 July

 

When a film star mysteriously disappears after renting an old country house, Inspector Holloway from the Yard discovers that the property has hosted a number of other supernatural encounters.

The third of Amicus’ seven portmanteau horror movies gets a shiny new HD transfer courtesy of Second Sight Films, meaning that the stylised gaudy colours are brighter than ever. As with many in this series, this 1971 movie is written by Robert Bloch (Psycho) using previously published short stories and featuring a host of familiar genre names.

The first story sees hack writer Denholm Elliott (Raiders of the Lost Ark) terrorised by the central character from one of his own books, long before Stephen King was doing this sort of thing. Peter Cushing and Joss Ackland then come together in Waxworks, recognising the identity of the Salome waxwork model in a museum and Cushing’s regular Hammer co-star Christopher Lee brings his A-game to Sweets to the Sweet as a widower who maintains a grip of steel on his daughter, even refusing her a doll… and with good reason!

The final story The Cloak is the most fun and is the one most remembered thanks to a fun performance by Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who) as an actor who buys a vampire cloak from a mysterious Geoffrey Bayldon (Catweazle). Also featuring Ingrid Pitt, Pertwee has great fun playing a heightened version of his own temperamental character.

Director Peter Duffell (he died in December 2917) provides a commentary alongside horror aficionado Jonathan Rigby, and there’s a second from author Troy Howarth as well as an interview with Second AD Mike Higgins. A-Rated Horror Film is a vintage feature with the director and some of his cast, and you also get the expected trailers, still and radio spots. The limited edition first release also includes a rigid slipcase of Graham Humphreys and a 40-page booklet of new writing.

Verdict: I’ll always have a soft spot for the Amicus anthology films, not least because they were a very accessible gateway to horror movies in my formative years. Even with 21st century eyes, they are a fun diversion, boasting a great cast, and even if you don’t like the story you’re watching, another one will be along in a minute! A lovely transfer and a horribly good time. 9/10

Nick Joy