And Now The Screaming Starts
Country: UK
Year: 1973
Studio: Amicus
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Stars: Stephanie Beacham, Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Ian Ogilvy
I have to admit I'm rather fond of this film despite the fact it's not really that brilliant. I saw it when I was quite young and there were parts I used to hide under the duvet for (a rarity for me even then). It's got a decent storyline but it's a tad padded out - it's based on a short story you could read the whole of by the time the opening credits are done.
A confused Stephanie Beacham (heaving bosoms over Victorian bodices ahoy!) is haunted by a one handed, eyeless ghost after marrying into the Fengriffen family who are prey to a dreadful curse foisted on them following the actions of a crazy ancestor. And the ghost's ex-hand joins in on the fun too. When Steph gets pregnant, the hormones go all mental and good old Peter Cushing playing "a doctor of the mind" arrives to medicate and investigate.
Cushing is great, as ever, and Ms Beacham does the job as the wild-eyed, large breasted damsel in distress. Star of the show, however, has to go to the crappy severed hand that spends it's plasticky life throttling anyone who dares talk about the curse of the Fengriffens. Not entirely sure what they were thinking when they made it but "Bugger this for a laugh, that'll do, let's go to the pub" springs to mind.
And on that note...
Reviewer - @helen_of_horror
Movie Spoiler - If you want to know the ending of the film.
