There are moments where this film drags, and I have trouble watching the sequence where the skull starts flying around the room, but director Freddie Francis lucked out when he decided to shoot several shots from the perspective of the skull. To do this he put a skull mockup in front of an aeroflex camera and moved around on roller skates. The happy result of this seeming absurdity is that the roaming camera serves to help involve the viewer with the developing psychological horror. The best sequence is when Maitland has a nightmare where he's kidnapped by the police and forced to play Russian Roulette. Despite what you would think to be inherent shortcomings, "The Skull" is an above average horror film carried in large part by Cushing's performance. It is nice to see him doing someone other than Dr. Frankenstein or Dr. Van Helsing.


Interesting idea built around the Marquis de Sade legend   November 6, 2002
 15 out of 15 found this review helpful

"The Skull" brings to life (no pun intended!) a most interesting horror tale built around the evil doings written down in history concerning the notorious Marquis de Sade. He was supposedly not insane but simply the personification of pure evil with his handsome looks and anti social/sadistic behaviour towards all he encountered. His life here serves as an ideal and indeed original basis for a horror tale about the bizzare and frightening powers he still possesses after his death in the form of his skull which is unleashed on some unsuspecting individuals in a later century.

This 1965 Amicus production stars the always terrific combination of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and explores this rather frightening premise of life, or power, after death. Adapted from a short story by the very talented horror writer Robert Bloch who was responsible for such horror classics as "Psycho" and "The House That Dripped Blood" it tells of the exhumation of the skull of the Marquis de Sade which passes from one curio collector to another and through its strange and deadly powers manages to continue the terror from beyond the grave and bring misfortune and death to all who possess it.

Peter Cushing plays Christopher Maitland an avid collector of antiques and curiosities such as a book that once belonged to the famed Marquis, the cover of which is made of human skin! Despite warnings from his fellow collector Sir Matthew Phillips (Christopher Lee) about the skulls evil powers Cushing through fair means and foul comes into possession of the skull and once it is placed among his collection it starts to take a frightening control over his mind turning him into a killer resulting in a tragic conclusion to the story.

Ably directed by veteran Hammer director Freddie Francis this film has a very spooky premise which delivers a good but not great story. The film does tend to drag at times, in particular in Cushing's dream sequence where he is abducted and taken to a mysterious court where he is almost forced to commit suicide. However "The Skull" has some very memorably scary moments.Particulary effective is the way the skull seems to take on a life of its own. Some of the action is shot from within the skull which is excellent in engendering an eerie sense that we are seeing what it is actually thinking. It's movements around rooms and its appearing in different locations is also well handled. The film also boasts one of the finest graveyard sets of any Hammer/Amicus production in the flash back sequence at the beginning when the Marquis's skull is dug up. Full of creepy old headstones, wrought iron fencing and an eerie whistling wind it is unsurpassed in creating just the right sense of doom and horror in this story. Indeed as in all these types of productions the attention to detail is excellent. Cushing and Lee work well together as always and it is good to see Peter Cushing, a highly underrated actor performing in a role that has a bit of menace thrown in for good measure.

"The Skull" is definately interesting viewing and has a theme which is original and a move away from the usual Vampire/Wolfman/Frankenstein features that predominated at this time. While not a great horror classic it is still a good film that has its share of spine chilling situations guaranteed to keep your interest.



The Skull is Swell!   April 27, 1999
 10 out of 14 found this review helpful

I watched this movie first on "The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting" with Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1971.

Have you ever fallen asleep with a horror movie going on the TV? You half-hear some of the dialog and wake up occasionally to check out what is going on. Being half-asleep, your defenses are not up to par. There is a free-floating feeling of foreboding.

This happened to me with "The Skull". Once when I woke up, this skull was apparently levitating and moving toward the professor. Under these circumstances, it was pretty scary!

Like most Hammer productions, this one is well mounted and written. I have seen it again since 1971. I like the slower pacing movies of this period have---it lets the story build.

If this sounds like your kind of movie, check it out!


The Skull , De Sade &Devil worship   October 10, 2003
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This Amicus film has haunting music by Laurie Johnson. Based on a story by Robert Bloch ,the theft of the Skull of the Marquis De Sade was a true incident. The film improves on the Bloch story and is very cleverly plotted by the screenwriter to center around two collectors of occult memorabilia (Peter Cushing as "Christopher Maitland" and Christopher Lee as "Sir Matthew Phillips") They are supplied their goods by a very shady dealer in antiques known as Mr. Marco who stumbles upon the Skull and sets up the Maitland character with an initial purchase of a book on the notorious life of the Marquis De Sade with a binding made out of human skin. It is important to remember that this book is only a prop. I say this because I have seen advertisements in antiquarian book trade magazines where the dealer states "customer is looking for a book bound in human skin" Incredible but TRUE! The initial sale is followed up by the offer of the Skull and after a short discussion based on Havelock Ellis's "Love and Pain" Maitland considers purchasing it but asks for time to think about it. He is advised against it by former owner and friend,Sir Matthew Phillips during a discussion over a game of snooker. The film has true "scare-ability" in the dream sequences and the mysticism surrounding the collections of both characters. It also has atmosphere. Some of the angles and lighting are really good, especially as Maitland is reading in his library (we have a view from within the fireplace!). When Maitland is kidnapped he enters into a new relationship with evil based on the power of the Skull and ultimately fails to realize that without protection he cannot fight the powers of darkness that are displayed so prominently in this work.If the film has a weakness, it is in the end where the "floating skull" sequences are rather ridiculous (wires can be seen). Otherwise it is an excellent adaptation of the original story and contains some memorable scenes and camera work.


Amicus,Cushing and Lee-a triumph   February 23, 2007
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This till today underrated Low budget horror film of
Hammers great rival Amicus has deserved to be called a
classic a long time ago!!!
With the little possibilitys he had at his dispoal director
Freddie Francis created a convincing,macabre atmosphaer of
pure supernatural evil.
The skull of the possesed Marquis De Sade seems indeed get to
live through the evil ghost of its dead "owner"!
The formal qualities of "The Skull" are excellent on every
area.
Direction,photographie,sets and acting are on the highest
level!
Its really its actors which give the film its greatest effect.
Peter Cushing gives a absolutely virtuoso performance as it
gives Christopher Lee in his relative small "guest star" part!!!
You can only say : With films like "The Skull" Amicus
establised themselves more and more as a potential rival for
Hammer in the horror film business!!
And as we all know,there woulb be soon films like "Torture garden",
"The house that dripped bllood" or "Tales from the Crypt".
And like these "The Skull" is a must for every horro fan-from
Amicus.
So,Hammer had to watch out!