Saw this one in a version called "Cemetery of the Living Dead" and was left shaking my head at the reviews I saw on IMDb, especially the ones that call this one of the great Gothic horror films.
Granted, this film has a lot going for it. First, there's Barbara Steele, who just had to be in a film to guarantee it a creepy quality.
Second, there are some great castle sets. The difficulty with this is that you often can't see the expanse of them because the film was shot so tightly, but maybe that's the print I was watching.
Lastly, there's the story, which had some definite possibilities. There are plague carriers rising from the grave to spread the infestation. There are suicides to avoid these ghostly creatures. There's the deceased lead character, who has harnessed the power of life and death.
The problem is that "Cemetery of the Living Dead" is so cheaply filmed that little of this matters. Instead of suspense, there are endless shots of people walking around rooms and down hallways, all to zero purpose.
The plague makeups are also lousy. The dubbing is even worse. Beyond all that, the ghosts of the plague carriers are never shown, unless you count their rubbery "monster" arms. Nowadays, you could buy a better prop at a Halloween shop...for $5.00.
Lots of promise to this one, but nothing is delivered. If you like watching people wander around, then this is the movie for you.
Granted, this film has a lot going for it. First, there's Barbara Steele, who just had to be in a film to guarantee it a creepy quality.
Second, there are some great castle sets. The difficulty with this is that you often can't see the expanse of them because the film was shot so tightly, but maybe that's the print I was watching.
Lastly, there's the story, which had some definite possibilities. There are plague carriers rising from the grave to spread the infestation. There are suicides to avoid these ghostly creatures. There's the deceased lead character, who has harnessed the power of life and death.
The problem is that "Cemetery of the Living Dead" is so cheaply filmed that little of this matters. Instead of suspense, there are endless shots of people walking around rooms and down hallways, all to zero purpose.
The plague makeups are also lousy. The dubbing is even worse. Beyond all that, the ghosts of the plague carriers are never shown, unless you count their rubbery "monster" arms. Nowadays, you could buy a better prop at a Halloween shop...for $5.00.
Lots of promise to this one, but nothing is delivered. If you like watching people wander around, then this is the movie for you.