TORTURE GARDEN (1967) (http://imdb.com/title/tt0062384/) - Good anthology horror film that has 4 stories that are revealed to us during a sideshow act at a caravel. Burgess Meredith is the sideshow host who takes the patrons behind an extra curtain for an extra $5. He has them look into a pair of scissors held by a seer to reveal their futures. The first story is good where a man tries to find his uncles riches and finds out that he got rich serving an evil cat who paid him in gold coins. The second story about immortal actors/actresses and the trade off. The third one involves a piano player and the evil that confines him. The fourth story is the best and it stars Jack Palance and Peter Cushing. The story of a couple guys who are collectors of Edgar Allen Poe objects. You'll be very surprised at what is in the basement ! ! !
:thumbup: (6 out of 10 Stars) I'm not crazy about anthologies, but this one is good.
(http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/cover_art3/torturegarden.jpg)
Never even HEARD of this one! Is it British? Well, I guess I can IMDB it --
I, on the other hand, really do like anthology films (Creepshow, Black Sabbath, Dead of Night, etc. etc.), so will probably look for this one --
Sounds cool -- Post some stills or go into some more plot detail, if you will, Scott -- Can you post one of Cushing/Palance? Is theirs a period piece, or modern times?
peter j./denny c.
The Peter Cushing/Jack Palance story is the best for sure. The story itself takes place in 1966 and this is an AMICUS film from England. The stories in this anthology are good as they were written by Robert Bloch.
Wacky note. The sideshow host Burgess Meredith even has a long stem cigarette like the penquin in the TV series Batman.
Sorry not to many pictures of this film on the internet.
WARNING ALERT................WARNING ALERT...............
Peter Cushing and Jack Palance are collectors of rare Edgar Allen Poe objects. Peter Cushing's family was much more than just collectors of Poe's stuff. They were into the occult and in the basement they have Edgar Allen Poe himself writing stories dated 1966. He has eternal life as some sort of punishment. Palance starts a fire in the basement and takes Poe's place so Poe can go onto the next world. Quite a sight to see Poe start to speak at his desk in the basement. Well done.
If I'm not mistaken this one has only been out for about a year or so on DVD. I remember when it was released and looked forward to picking it up but forgot to. Thanks for the reminder Scott! I love anthology films, and this one looks great!
Its on fearnet right now, if you have digital cable or have no problem watching a movie on your computer. I started watching this the other night and got distracted; I liked what I saw, though.
That's where I also saw TORTURE GARDEN Fausto "On Demand" Comcast free movies and this one was from Fearnet.
That's also were I saw DEATHWATCH yesterday.
Yeah, all of the Amicus anthologies are worth a look.
If you see a good British horror movie from the 70's and you think it's from Hammer, it's probably from Amicus. :teddyr:
I've seen this one several times in the store, but had no idea it was an anthology. Now I will have to check it out.
All the stories are done in modern times. I can say that I liked 3 out of the 4 stories.
Quote from: peter johnson on June 04, 2007, 02:14:34 PM
Never even HEARD of this one! Is it British? Well, I guess I can IMDB it --
I, on the other hand, really do like anthology films (Creepshow, Black Sabbath, Dead of Night, etc. etc.), so will probably look for this one --
Sounds cool -- Post some stills or go into some more plot detail, if you will, Scott -- Can you post one of Cushing/Palance? Is theirs a period piece, or modern times?
peter j./denny c.
Yes, it is a British film, Peter. It was done by the British company Amicus Productions. Some of the other film anthologies, they did were . . .
"The Terror's House of Horrors"
"The House that Dripped Blood"
"Tales from the Crypt" (the film, not the TV show)
"Asylum"
"The Vault of Horror"
"Tales that Witness Madness"
"The Monster Club."
And, if those aren't enough to get you excited, the company is also responsible for "At the Earth's Core," which is reviewed at this site.