The Gorgon (1965)

At the Full Moon people in the village of Vandorf are suffering bizarre deaths, not by a werewolf but by a Greek mythological creature known as a Gorgon. Merely looking at her face turns victims to stone. This film boasts fine sets which just ooze Gothic horror, is very well directed and boasts a great cast, including horror heavyweights Lee and Cushing. Sadly Lee only gets any significant screen time during the last 30 minutes. Also in the cast are British scream queen Barbara Shelley and Patrick Troughton, who was best known for playing Dr Who. Censorship was very strict at the time so there's little in the way of sex or gore, hence why it is now rated 12 in the UK. But it does pack in plenty of chills. Hammer were infamous for filming night scenes during the day but here they were thankfully filmed in the dark. A classic stand alone title.

I'm no Hammer Films maven by any means, so of the few I've seen I've generally been taken aback by the film makers' rather generous use of bold, bright colors. 1957's "The Curse of Frankenstein" is a case in point. When I began watching this picture it seemed that perhaps I had been generalizing this idea too much, but then all of a sudden, right in the middle of Dr. Namaroff's lab was this big, bright red couch! What was that all about?Well here's a tale of the Gorgon, a mysterious and deadly creature, the sight of which can turn the unsuspecting viewer to stone. With seven such deaths in the village of Vandorf over the past five years, it was rather intriguing to me why the villagers weren't the least bit curious to figure out what might have been going on. When the judge declared the deaths of Bruno Heitz and his fiancée a murder and suicide, the factual evidence that her body turned to stone never even came up! It's too bad the film's most likable character turned out to be the person possessed by the spirit of Maguera the Gorgon. Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley) was a genuinely sympathetic individual who didn't seem to have any idea that moon filled nights turned her into a monster. One would suspect that this would lead to a rocky relationship with the newly arrived brother Paul Heitz (Richard Pasco), who's idea of romance would soon be met with stony silence. By the time this movie was approaching it's finale, I found I couldn't help it with all manner of puns from intruding on my mind, so much so that a horrifying ending had to be taken for granite. Imagine my satisfaction when the Gorgon's final roll of the dice turned up snake eyes.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scored" - could be The Gorgon's motto.I've seen this film quite awhile back - and recall enough about after skimming through it. It's not one of my favorite films I think because I prefer The Gorgon (Medusa) in Greek mythological films (like Clash of the Titans). The movie is good to watch though if you would like to see her in a different type of a film.The casting, sets, and costuming is just as good as any other Hammer Film. It's a Gothic fantasy horror film that is worth a look if you like Medusa, horror, fantasy or simply a fan of Hammer Films.6.5/10

Hammer took a break from the Dracula and Frankenstein movies to focus on the Gorgon character, a witch with snakes as hair, her face turning those that look at her into stone. Seven victims in the forest near the village of Vandorf have fallen victim to the Gorgon, but Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing) and the police (specifically Inspector Kanof played by the second timelord, Patrick Troughton of Dr. Who fame) have concealed her crimes—the question is why? When a painter is found hung after the death of his girlfriend, Namaroff will have a hard time keeping a lid on the Gorgon any longer. Professor Jules Heitz (Michael Goodliffe) pursues justice for his son, considered the one responsible for his girlfriend's murder (she was in fact turned to stone), found hung from a tree, and also falls prey to the Gorgon. Before he succumbs fully to the stone affliction of the Gorgon, Jules gets a letter to his son Paul (Richard Pasco), informing him of Vandorf's corruption and this instigates an investigation which could once and for all uncover who houses the evil witch's spirit that comes to life at the fullness of the moon. The ruins of Castle Borski is the location where the Gorgon spirit Magera seems to frequent. Paul is a student of Professor Karl Meister (Christopher Lee), and needs his mentor's help after an encounter with the Gorgon. Paul is in love with a nurse of Namaroff's, Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley), which produces further complications. Karl and Paul know that Namaroff is hiding something, but he will not cooperate with their investigation of the Gorgon—but what is he hiding and why? I have to admit that this film is more fun before the Gorgon is actually revealed (she is pretty cheesy, I must confess), when the face of this creature is obscured and we see frightened faces of those unfortunates who look at her (I think the acting does really sell how horrific she looks, but Hammer couldn't cheat their audience without at least showing Magera at the end, now could they?), especially as characters like Paul go looking around the ruins of Castle Borski. Lee is particularly fun as the formidable Meister who doesn't tolerate the same sort of bullying tactics that Paul's father did by the citizens and police. Determined to find an answer to who the Gorgon is and what Namaroff is keeping secret, Meister is needed because Paul becomes misguided by his love for Carla (Namaroff is also in love with Carla). Cushing has a complex character in this film, so in love with Carla that he could be contributing to the murders instead of stopping them. The ending is quite tragic as Paul pays a heavy price for his love of Carla (as does Namaroff), with Lee saving the day. With the sinister ruins of the castle and plenty of atmosphere to spare, I think "The Gorgon" is a nice little sleeper worthy of discovery for Hammer fans.