Nightmare Castle (1966)

Hot-blooded Muriel (ravishing Goth queen Barbara Steele in fine form) has an extramarital affair with studly gardener Jonathan (hunky Guiseppe Addobbati). When Muriel's sadistic and pitiless husband Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith (splendidly played to the snotty and sneering hilt by Paul Muller) finds out, he brutally tortures the adulterous duo prior to killing them. Stephen subsequently marries Muriel's innocent and emotionally fragile half sister Jenny (also portrayed by Steele), who soon starts being tormented by Muriel's vengeful and unrestful spirit. Ably directed with style and assurance by Mario Caiano, with a constant snappy pace, an absorbing script by Caiano and Fabio De Agostini, a flavorsome evocation of the past period setting, some startlingly bloody and ferocious moments of in-your-face nasty violence, handsome, agile black and white cinematography by Enzo Barboni, a potently gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of pure skin-crawling dread, a rich score by Ennio Morricone that alternates between supremely spooky'n'shuddery ooga-booga midnight chillshow stuff and more elegant orchestral music, and a rousing conclusion that makes inspired and effective use of ominous swirling mist, this fright film certainly does the pleasingly creepy trick. The witchily beautiful and alluring Steele excels in her juicy dual role. The lovely Helga Line also does well as Solange, a wizened old crone servant who has her youthful pulchritude restored by a serum Stephen made from Muriel's blood. Essential viewing for Barbara Steele fans.

I'm working my way through the Horror Classics 50 Movie Pack Collection and NIGHTMARE CASTLE is one of the movies in the set. I am watching them with my soon-to-be seven-year old daughter, which makes most of these movies a laugh riot.However, NIGHTMARE CASTLE is not one of them! In fact, it is just my kind of old-fashioned, B-grade horror movie. It is an especially creepy thriller! Barbara Steele plays a duel role as an unfaithful wife; and, her mentally fragile sister. Despite being obviously the same person, it's easy to suspend one's disbelief because the characters are so completely different – the wig doesn't hurt either.The plot gives way to Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith marrying the sister, to keep his hands on his late-wife's fortune (of course after torturing her and her lover in the first part of the movie). He does this to continue his bizarre experiments, including extracting the hearts of his two victims, for the benefit of his ally Solange, the maid – who really wants to be more than that in the doctor's life.NIGHTMARE CASTLE features beautiful cinematography, lush locations; and, an aptly Gothic castle. It is rather thin on plot; and, has absolutely abysmal dialogue, due to poor dubbing.Barbara Steele is exceptionally well cast; and, offers up apt performances. The score is quite eerie (I wish the sound was better on this print); and, sufficiently intensifies the atmosphere and action.Yes, the plot reads like a sordid melodrama. But, I like NIGHTMARE CASTLE.

Italian queen of Gothic horror Barbara Steele portrays the wife of a deranged scientist played by Paul Muller whose latest experiments involve electro-stimulation of human blood.When the mad doctor discovers that his wife is unfaithful,he tortures,disfigures and kills her alongside her gardener lover,then removes and preserves the hearts of the victims,using their blood to restore youth and beauty to his own lover Solange.When the madman discovers that his late wife left all her wealth to her mentally unstable sister he quickly sets about courting and marrying the poor girl,then proceeds to drive her completely mad in order to inherit her fortune."Nightmare Castle" is an essence of Italian Gothic horror.It takes place almost entirely in castle interiors,frequently in utter darkness.There are some scenes of depressing violence and the visuals are rich and beautiful.The hypnotic eyes of Barbara Steele are not easy to forget.9 out of 10.

When a twisted count finds his wife cheating on him with the gardener, he tortures and kills them both, then removes their hearts. Years pass and he remarries his wife's stepsister who is thought to be crazy but was left lots of money from her now dead sister. Soon she is experiencing horrible dreams and seeing ghosts. A doctor comes to see her to see if she's insane. You see, if she is found insane, the count will be in charge of all her money so he does his best to keep her disturbed, although these ghosts are really those of the counts slain wife and horny gardener. See where this is going? To be honest, it's not a bad movie. The acting is not bad, although the script is a bit weak at times. Barbara Steele plays the wife and stepsister and this movie is pretty much owned by her good performance. It's not all that scary but fairly well shot and has some good ideas but I just don't think it's made creatively enough to make it stand out among lots of other bloody revenge flicks. Not great but makes a fairly decent late night viewing.