Theatre of Blood (1973)

After several top movie critics are viciously killed, the police discover it is the followers of a celebrated Shakespearean actor thought dead and ordering them to assist in his revenge on critics who savaged his work and race to stop him before his revenge is complete.This is one of the finest and most enjoyable efforts in his career. First and foremost, it must be said that this is Vincent Price's movie. Here, he delivers one of his finest performances to date, and it's simply a joy to see Price perform so splendidly in what was obviously a role written specifically for him. That makes his performance all the more watchable, as he's supposed to be acting ham which is due to the way the film carries itself out. The way the plot dictates matters makes it all the more watchable as it's quite fun to see how ham Price can be this involving a Shakespearean actor seeking revenge on movie critics for harmful reviews is a role Price was born to play, and in here it really works for the film. Besides the greatness of Price's role, the film is memorable for the method of murder as being one of the most creative and imaginative in horror cinema. Because of the way Price's character is written, basing the deaths on the movie the critic bashed, this is further proof of Price's genius in the role as the deaths are so much fun to watch, yet require a large amount of intelligence on the viewer to deduce what is going on with the deaths. That is quite a change and one that is quite welcomed in the film by giving this the kind of atmosphere to allow for quite an impressive time here. There are a couple of great action pieces in here that are quite entertaining going off of that, featuring a duel at a fencing school which is inventive and exhilarating going back and forth between the fighters, a stellar series of gruesome deaths as well as the opening attack in the theater which is an effective way to get the movie rolling and delivers lots of chills. The other big plus here comes from one of the best finales in a long while which includes a spectacular gathering and the overall burning-down-the-building finish that offers a rather touching finish. These make this one a blast to watch while not really offering up too many flaws. It's biggest problem is that this is a little bit more intelligent than what most of the usual horror fans are used to since the viewer is required to know Shakespeare and his works, for that drives most of the horror in here. Knowing that will increase the level of involvement in the script as well since the large amount of detail in here is not something for those that have very little experience with the works of Shakespeare to just get into. Otherwise, this is a great film.Today's Rating/R: Graphic Violence and Language.

Vincent Price really hams it up here, playing actor Edward Lionheart, assumed drowned in the River Thames. He embarks on a gruesome & bloody killing spree, using the works of his hero William Shakespeare as inspiration. Great, even mix of dark humour & horror, excellent cast (many of whom will be especially familiar with British audiences) and some good use of using real locations on London. My only gripe is that the killings do start to wear slightly thin, perhaps a shorter running time may have prevented this. However this is a really enjoyable movie, essential viewing for Price fans.

Many fans regard this movie as Vincent Price's finest hour and I would largely agree. This is the sole movie that stands as a tribute to the legend of Price, here playing up to his "horror star" role in a delightfully over-the-top performance of eye-rolling, lip-smacking ham. Fans will no doubt realise that one of Price's best assets was his distinctive, unique voice, which is put to good use here as he recites lines from Shakespeare like nobody else. Hated Shakespeare at school? In that case I would recommend that you watch this movie and find out how Shakespeare can be fun.Visually, this movie is about as striking as any from the period, although the direction of Douglas Hickox is pacy and interesting, making some moments surreal and others suitably grand. The music is evocative, especially that of the opening credits which are sheer brilliance, lyrical and quite moving in equal measures. The credits help to sum up a whole era of classic film making which, sadly, will never be recaptured again.Word has it that the starry supporting cast all agreed to do this film as a tribute to Price, and it's not hard to believe that. I've never seen a film before where EVERY character is played by a familiar, recognised name. First up are Milo O'Shea and Eric Sykes, playing two bumbling and caricatured police detectives who milk their dialogue for all its worth and are frequently amusing. I loved the ending with Sykes hiding in the boot of the car; "I can hear what sounds like a train...getting louder...ARGH!". Secondly, we have the lovely presence of Diana Rigg in reserve as Price's youthful assistant who aids him in his macabre murders.Then there are the art critics, who all meet a string of inventive and wild deaths. It begins with Michael Hordern getting slashed to death by a gang of crazed delinquents in a deserted factory while his wife potters around nervously at home. Next up is the inimitable Dennis Price, speared through the stomach, then, for me, the film's comic highlight: Arthur Lowe gets his head sawed off and stuck on top of a milk bottle! After this the deaths follow in rapid succession; Harry Andrews is lured to a derelict theatre and has his heart cut out, Jack Hawkins is fooled into murdering his wife (a cameoing Diana Dors, playing up to her sex symbol reputation), a delightfully camp Robert Morley is stuffed to death and devours his own two poodles, Robert Coote is drowned in a barrel of wine, Coral Browne electrocuted and more. Familiar British ladies Madeline Smith and Joan Hickson also put in welcome appearances.Within this repetitive framework are two standout moments which are testament to Price's love and ability to evoke the grand. The first comes when he returns to the apartment at which the critics have met after losing the actor award; sorrowful, he recites lines from Hamlet before throwing himself off the outside balcony. The second is the fiery climax in which Price devises a fiendish torture for Ian Hendry, by burning out his eyes like Gloucester in King Lear. He then gets to mutter a second soliloquy while wandering mournfully around the burning ruins as onlookers crowd around outside.As well as all this, there are incidental pleasures to be had from the clowning of Sykes and O'Shea; an energetic fencing bout to enjoy, plus the amusing antics of a crowd of meth-drinkers who befriend Price before eventually turning on him. Although made in '73, this film is explicitly gory for the time and has enough to satisfy even the most jaded gore hound today, with smoking hearts plucked from chests, all manner of impalings, decapitations, and disgusting moments, all portrayed in an effective Grand Guignol tribute which, although low budget, manage to overcome some of the cheap look that the two Phibes films were blighted by. Above all, though, the most impressive thing is Price himself, and this film stands as an effective symbol of his life's work and achievement, and all that he embodied as a horror actor. Unmissable viewing for fans of the period.

After losing the Critic's Circle Award for Best Actor, which he felt he deserved for his recent season of Shakespeare plays, enraged and mad actor Edwin Lionheart (Price) commits suicide. Unbeknownst to everyone, though, he survives and with the help of some vagrants start dealing his revenge on the critics, killing each of them in accordance to his plays' deaths.A darkly humorous horror/thriller, performed magnificently by Vincent Price and an excellent British supporting cast (such as Milo O'Shea, Ian Hendry and Diana Rigg); this is easily Price's best role and one of his best films. Leagues above his previous 'Abominable Mr. Phibes', even if the two feel very similar concept-wise.One of the film's main sources of profit comes from the way Price's character is set. Lionheart is a theater actor with a tendency to overact (which is acknowledged by one of the critics); this simple fact gives Price an excuse to overact as he wishes, to ham things up as he goes, and makes his performance both fun to watch and consistent with his character. Seeing him in outrageous make-up, performing for the city's bums, is priceless (excuse the pun).The Shakespearean motifs are also very well done. Not only the killings, which are both amusing and quite consistent with the plays they are based on (including a 'rewrite' of 'The Merchant of Venice's trial), but Price actually does play Shakespeare's characters nicely: he pulls off some of the monologues (in special Hamlet's and King Lear's) better than some Shakespearean actors I've seen.The film is quite colorful, a especially delightful trait of 50's-70's British horrors; this, coupled with the pervasive humor even in the more serious scenes, makes this work more as a comedy-horror than as a pure horror/thriller. No matter how you wish to look at it, though, the fact is that 'Theatre of Blood' is a very entertaining and fun film.