The Masque of the Red Death / The Premature Burial (1962)

Wonderfully cheesy Satan worshipping flick

While this bears only slight resemblance to Edgar Allen Poe's story, it's a fine piece of B movie schlock, with Vincent Price in his sinister element. It's superb fun and well worth the money. September 8, 2008

No One Can Escape Death

Horror legend, Vincent Price, stars in "The Masque of the Red Death." He delivers a great performance as one of the most despicable, evil villains of his career, Prince Prospero. While the Red Death rages throughout the countryside, killing most everyone in its wake, the heartless, merciless, Satan worshipping Prince Prospero takes refuge in his mighty fortress. Roger Corman spent more money and time producing this film than he did on any of the other versions of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, and it definitely shows. The settings and costumes are extravagant.

"The Masque of the Red Death" is one of the most violent of the Price movies I've seen. Never a dull moment. Prince Prospero thinks that he can escape death, but no one can. In the end, death finds Prince Prospero.

In "The Premature Burial," another man, Ray Milland, tries to escape death but can't. Originally, Vincent Price was suppose to play Milland's role but couldn't because he had an exclusive contract with AIP. (Later, Pathe, which owned "The Premature Burial," was bought by AIP.) I'm glad Price couldn't; he was always better at playing the villain than he was the tormented hero.

Milland is Guy Carrell who has an unhealthy obsession about being buried alive - an obsession that grows into madness. Not as lavish and extravagant a production as "Masque of the Red Death," "The Premature Burial" is, however, very entertaining. The body count is low compared to "Masque," but it becomes very violent towards the end. However, it is more gothic than "Masque." Corman used the lightning and fog machines quite liberally throughout the film.

The buxom beauty, Hazel Court, is in both movies. Her diverse roles prove what a wonderful actress she was.

This double feature from MGM is a must have for fans of Vincent Price, fans of gothic horror, and fans of good classic horror cinema. Each movie will make you ponder your own death long after you've seen it.
May 8, 2008

'Masque' Is Excellent; 'Burial' Is Pretty Good

A two-in-one pairing in which one half of the bill clearly overwhelms the other, with 'The Premature Burial' a decent film that fans of this era of horror will want to watch, and with 'The Masque Of The Red Death' as the real must-see.

In 'Masque Of The Red Death', the red death plague is ravaging the medieval countryside, and people are looking for refuge wherever they can. A trio of peasants - a young couple and the girl's father - wind up taking shelter at the grand castle of Prospero (Vincent Price, in one of his alltime greatest roles), a twisted despot. In this palace where Prospero and a host of unlikable nobles - all ruled over with an iron fist by Prospero - have squestered themselves in comfort against the ravages of the plague, the trio becomes Prospero's prisoners. The lord of the castle is a cruel master with a warped sense of humor. Among the most intriguing angles of the movie is the strange relationship that develops between Prospero and the 'peasant girl' Francessca (Jane Asher). Francessca is a courageous and compassionate girl, with a real nobility that the barons and aristocrats in the castle only have title to. As her spirit fails to falter or change, Prospero seems increasingly fascinated by her. He seems to develop a respect and affection for her - not neccessarily a romantic affection, but perhaps something more like an uncle or even a father. But being unfamiliar with either respect or love (fatherly or otherwise) Prospero doesn't quite seem to recognize the feelings, and is thus made all the more curious. The supernatural elements of the movie enter at the great masquerade ball the castle's master stages and orders everyone to attend, and certainly put forward some unusual notions. Masque Of The Red Death is captivating, atmospheric, not at all campy, and makes outstanding use of color, music and production design.

'The Premature Burial' is one of Roger Corman's few horror entries not to star Price, instead featuring Ray Milland in the lead role as a man so obsessed with a fear of being buried alive that he constructs a special crypt and coffin designed for escape should that fate ever befall him. Of course, an unexpected monkeywrench ends up being thrown into the whole plan. With talented people on both sides of the camera and with a solid idea behind it, this probably should have been better, but it was one of those cases where things didn't click and the whole ended up being less than the sum of its parts. It's an alright watch; though it was filmed in 1962 it may appeal more strongly to fans of horror and suspense from a decade or more earlier - actually probably more to suspense fans because its hold on its status as a horror movie is somewhat tenuous.

Overall the disc offers one of the most essential horror movies from the 1960s in Masque and a good bonus in Burial. A definate pick for fans of Price/Corman/Poe or of similar horror from the era, like Hammer's movies. February 29, 2008

Roger Corman does Edgar Allen Poe: Campy creep outs at their best

Roger Corman may not be known for his Oscar caliber movies, but if there's one thing he SHOULD be known for, its his film adaptions of Edgar Allen Poe stories. This two-film DVD features two great examples.

Starring Vincent Price, "The Masque of the Red Death" is probably the best of the Corman Poe adaptions. The story begins with an elderly woman out gathering wood. The woman comes in contact with a mysterious man clothed all in red who gives her a beautiful red rose to take back to the village.

Price stars as the evil Prince Prospero, a nobleman not known for his kindness and compassion. During Prospero's visit to the villageto "thank" the citizens for their "donated" crops, he finds that many are unhappy with his actions. Two men are taken into custody to be imprisoned at the palace having offended Prospero by confronting him for his cruelty. Unfortunately, their actions cause the prince to come into contact with the lovely Francesca. Just as Prospero prepares to kill the men, one of whom is Francesca's father, the other her betrothed, screams draw the attention of all to the home of the old woman who is found covered with red spots and blood, dead of the red death.

Prospero drags Francesca and the men in her life back to the palace which is then sealed off from all who pass through the village. Only Prospero's friends and cronies are given refuge from the impending epidemic.

But Prospero's ties to Satan soon turn on him and he finds his palace to be a prison from which he cannot escape.

Corman uses color exquisitely in this movie, with the costumes, sets and even actors fitting into the gothic palette he has created. In one particularly memorable sequence, Prospero's former lover becomes the bride of Satan, branding her breast with an upside down cross. When she seals the deal with a drink of some unknown brew, she is thrown into a nightmare in which she suffers as sacrifice to some of the more blood thirsty religions in history.

"Masque of the Red Death" is one of the best examples of Corman's Poe films. And while it doesn't stick to the original story much (none of the Poe films do) the storyline is very well done. The acting is very good and Price is fantastic as yet another evil man bent on enjoying the darker side of the world.

There are some pretty disturbing scenes which make this movie one I don't recommend for younger children. And there is some reference to deviant sexual behaviors. But there are really no actual sex scenes in the film. Corman uses innuendo and suggestions to get the point across without resorting to images of bare breasts and behinds to titillate the audience.

This movie is perfect for a late night horror fest when you're looking for something older children (say 10 and up) can watch to get scared without showing them anything raunchy.

For horror fans, this movie is an example of how a movie maker can use sets, story and acting to achieve horrifying results without having to go for the gross out or the boob shot.

Get this one today!
November 12, 2007

Still crazy after all these years!

Masque of the Red Death was my absolutel favorite of all the Vincent Price movies. I first saw it as part of a double feature (remember those?) along with an Annette and Frankie surfing movie. Well, I have little memory of the content of that beach-party film, but Masque of the Red Death has remained a life-long favorite!

Bunus! It's a double-feature again, this time without the sand and surf, but another wonderful Vincent Price film... And, all these years later, it's STILL worth "cutting school" to see it!

This is a MUST BUY! August 11, 2007

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