The Horror genre is the one I like the least. Main reason, the movies are stupid, untrue, ridiculous, based on unfounded mischievous scripts. But I saw the name of Jack Palance in the cast, another actor I admire and love. Plus, the name of Robert Bloch, who wrote also "Psycho". And when I was little, I've seen, many times, so much I liked it, another movie made by Freddie Francis, "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors," with the same Peter Cushing in the cast. Well, this "Torture Garden" is not bad either. Also made up of several episodes as "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors". Burgess Meredith, who introduces us to stories, makes a very good part. The last episode, the one with Cushing and Palance, is the best.

"Torture Garden" is, overall, a fun if unexceptional horror anthology from Amicus, a company that specialized in that sort of thing for a number of years. With a screenplay written by Robert Bloch of "Psycho" fame, and efficient direction by Freddie Francis, it's unfortunately a little uneven. It's divided into four segments, and segments two and three aren't quite as punchy, and more amusing than anything; segment one, which is rather leisurely paced, would have been better off as the third in the movie.The ever wonderful Burgess Meredith is a sort of host for the proceedings, playing a sideshow personality named Dr. Diabolo, who takes various customers into his "torture garden" and places them in front of an exhibit that can foretell their futures, and see the darkness buried within each of them."Enoch" stars Michael Bryant as Colin, a man in need of money who thinks he'll get it from his dying uncle (Maurice Denham). After accidentally causing the old man's death, he discovers what kinds of secrets his uncle had been keeping, and they revolve around a spooky "cat" that will develop a powerful hold on him. This is interesting and atmospheric stuff, with a great denouement and enjoyable shock moments.In "Terror Over Hollywood", cunning and ambitious young actress Carla (Beverly Adams) manages to make the acquaintance of some power players in the business, including veteran star & producer Bruce Benton (Robert Hutton). She soon finds out that there's a reason why Benton and company are able to maintain a facade of youth. This leads to a real hoot of a revelation, which gives this episode its element of "horror"."Mr. Steinway" is definitely something different: the only story this viewer has seen that can claim to be a love triangle between a journalist, Dorothy (Barbara Ewing), a star pianist, Leo (John Standing), and Leo's piano. Yup, a musical instrument. This is rather cheesy stuff, and entertaining, but hardly scary.Peter Cushing and Jack Palance star in "The Man Who Collected Poe", about two men obsessed with the legendary author. Ronald Wyatt (Palance) is determined to find out everything that he can about just what kinds of things Lancelot Canning (Cushing) is hoarding. As it turns out, Lancelot truly has the treasure to beat them all. At least we can say that this movie ends with the best story of the bunch.Taken as a whole, the movie is enjoyable for horror fans, although it is somewhat plodding and has its ups and downs. The top notch cast makes it a worthy viewing; John Phillips, Michael Ripper, Bernard Kay, David Bauer, Niall MacGinnis, Hedger Wallace, Clytie Jessop, and Timothy Bateson also appear. It's also noteworthy for having American stars (Palance and Meredith) be top billed. It's not the best of the Amicus anthologies, but it's not bad at all either.Seven out of 10.

This is a horror anthology and it has a very interesting premise binding the various episodes together. The film begins in some sort of sideshow tent. Burgess Meredith is dressed in a somewhat demonic looking outfit and is showing the crowd a trick involving an electric chair. It's all pretty cheesy, but he promises the crowd REALLY INTENSE thrills in the next room--if they are willing to pay the very steep admission price. They agree and at first are disappointed. However, one by one, he reveals to them their future--what COULD be if they do not heed his warning. In a creepy touch, he privately burns their money--and so it's obvious he's not in it to get rich. What ARE his motivations and who is this weirdo?! The first story involves a man who is greedy and can't wait for his rich uncle to die. In fact, he expedites matters when he withholds his sick uncle's medicine--as he coldly watches the sad man die. But the nasty nephew has no idea where the old guy's stash of gold coins lie--and he spends much of his time searching. However, when an other-worldly cat shows up, you learn the truth (and it creeped me out, as the cat looked like both of my cats!)--and it's naturally a nasty one! The next involves a passive-aggressive lady. You see that this is the case when she deliberately scorches her roommate's dress and claims it is an accident. It appears that the nasty lady is an aspiring actress and she did this in order to steal the roommate's date--some big-wig in the movie industry. And, when on this date, she dumps this guy in favor of another Hollywood player--someone with more power to make her famous. Talk about a conniver! But where this goes next is REALLY weird--and you've just gotta see this one! The third is about a lady who is a reporter who has come to interview a famous concert pianist. He is an odd-ball, as he has named his piano 'Euterpe' and talks to it like it's alive. And, eventually the piano tells him to have nothing to do with her--she is getting in the way of their art. It's pretty goofy and much weaker than the previous wonderful vignettes.The next story features two big-name actors--Jack Palance and Peter Cushing (famous for his many horror film appearances). Both are book collectors who love the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Cushing invites Palance to visit his home--a place that is a shrine to the great writer. It's filled with various valuable Poe artifacts (including a hand-written unpublished story) and the place looks a bit like a spook house. Unfortunately for Palance, he's WAYYY too curious and ends up learning too much about Cushing's collection as well as Poe.The final person is unwilling to learn about his future--mostly because he seems scared of what he'll see. Instead, he attacks Meredith and scares most the patrons off--as they run in horror. Then the twist...All in all, it's a fun and somewhat silly sort of anthology. The first two were clearly the best but even the worst one was worth seeing. Too bad Meredith didn't make a follow-up film!

TORTURE GARDEN is a Amicus horror anthology that seems rather forgotten . It rarely turns up on television but even so it's slightly puzzling why it's not fondly remembered . After seeing it I've come to the logical conclusion that whilst it isn't dreadfully camp like the rather dire THE MONSTER CLUB it lacks a morbid fun factor like VAULT OF HORROR has in abundance . There's also the feeling that the movie s marketed towards an American audience thereby making the TORTURE GARDEN lose much of its British charm the Amicus anthologies had in their favourThe stories themselves are rather hit and miss which leads to the train of thought that if you dislike one story then they'll be one along in a minute that you might prefer . And in these type of stories the old warning that be careful what you wish for because you might just get it are at the centre of the tale . The first and fourth stories are the best but none of them are outstanding - they're merely okay