... despite more holes in the plot than would ever be cause by moles in a graveyard. The basic story is sound but there are so many inconsistencies in plot and character development it becomes at times, quite laughable. That it's still watchable for me is largely down to Messrs. Lee and Karloff saving the day. However, at one point the director (presumably) thought it would be funny (mistakenly) for Robert Manning to remark 'It's like Boris Karloff will pop out at any moment' when Karloff was there playing another character. It should also be noted that in an accompanying extra on some DVD/Blu-Ray issues, Christopher Lee, in an interview, describes this as a 'dreadful little film'. I guess it's a mark of honesty to include that in the DVD but not a great selling point...

Starring Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee (with support from Barbara Steele and Michael Gough amongst others), and written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln, who introduced The Yeti to television's Doctor Who – this has all the hallmarks of being a classic. The results, however, are average.'Curse…' opens with a brave and bizarre fetishist torture scene, which recurs throughout in various dream sequences (with some unnerving sound effects – a kind of backward tape loop used as disorientating background noise). The hero of the piece is Richard Manning (Mark Eden) who is sadly less interesting than most of the other characters. He's searching for his missing brother, but succeeds only in revisiting nightmares and tales of witchcraft whilst staying in a sprawling mansion at the generous behest of Lee's Morley. It is revealed that Manning is the direct descendant of the judge who condemned a witch to death many years earlier.Despite labelling the film 'dreadful', Christopher Lee puts in what I think is one of his best performances. Understated and absolutely convincing as a man unable to help Manning locate his brother, whilst concealing darker motives. It's just possible he is the living reincarnation of witch Lavinia Morley (otherwise played by Steele in a green-faced make-up) although this is not explained.Despite a fiery climax, 'Curse…' never escapes from the dullness of its direction. Vernon Sewell also directed Tigon's 'The Blood Beast Terror' the same year with an equally staid lack of ambition.

This is a minor horror film with a superior cast but uninspired scripting and directing. It's certainly enjoyable enough, but this viewer wouldn't consider it classic. The actors are better than the material (which is apparently inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "Dreams in the Witch House"). Mark Eden stars as Robert Manning, an antiques dealer whose brother has gone missing. So he tracks him down to the last place he was supposed to have visited: the Craxted Lodge. Robert discovers a predictably strange community where the people pay tribute to a figure from their history: the witch Lavinia (a green skinned Barbara Steele). Robert does some sleuthing while meeting locals played by the likes of Sir Christopher Lee (as Morley, the lodge operator) and Boris Karloff (as witchcraft expert Professor Marsh).The ingredients are there for a decent horror feature: sets, special effects, atmosphere, entertaining characters. There's also some brief nudity (supplied by beautiful blonde Virginia Wetherell, who plays Morley's niece Eve) and little flashes of gore. In the tradition of old black & white shockers, there's a secret passage as part of the fun. Hypnotism is also one of the elements. Eden is likable, but the lovely Ms. Steele is mostly wasted; she's not required to do much. Michael Gough has his moments as the perpetually harried lodge employee Elder. Rupert Davies has a fine cameo as a helpful vicar. As always, Sir Christopher is elegant and dapper and has a commanding presence. It is a treat to see him sharing scenes with Boris (this was the last film Karloff made that played theatres during his lifetime), who enriches the film with his appearances.Not helping matters is the fact that the story is overly predictable, and that the ending is rather underwhelming. While admirers of the actors and lovers of the genre may find this well worth watching for completion's sake, it's not really essential viewing.Six out of 10.

With a pairing of Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff, you shouldn't go wrong. But there is very little time of the two in the same scene. Robert Manning(Mark Eden)is an antique dealer that is worried about his missing brother. So Manning makes a trip to a rural English village to start his search. Manning tries to prove that his missing brother has something to do with an ancient mansion belonging to a man named Morely(Lee). Robert gets involved with Morley's niece Eve(Virginia Wetherell), who wants to believe that something bad has happened to the American's brother. The two get entangled in the legend of Levinia(Barbara Steele), a witch that was killed 300 years ago. Was Manning's brother a sacrifice to a cult? Robert and Eve seek information from the village's grand elder, Professor Marsh(Karloff), who is an occult expert. The movie stays busy, a memorable one it isn't. Other players: Michael Gough, Rosemarie Reede and Michael Warren.