Demons of the Mind

From the fabled British Hammer Studio comes this 1972 gothic tale of murder, dementia and incest. As a series of murders transpire in the English countryside, a local baron locks up his two adult children (Gillian Hills and Shane Briant) in hopes of preventing a hereditary curse of madness (given that the siblings can't keep their hands off one another, the baron's fears are not unfounded). While red herrings abound (a peasant--Paul Jones, former lead singer of Manfred Mann!--schemes to release the pair, a mad doctor gets into the act, and the baron's servant has taken to prowling around the afflicted village at night), this thriller ultimately emphasizes psychology over shock and gore (although too many plot threads are left dangling). Tech-wise, the anamorphic picture features soft colors and indistinct outlines, but is relatively free of the scratches and imperfections one might expect from a 30 year-old film. The mono soundtrack is less successful, as pieces of dialogue are often buried beneath the sound effects. Writer Christopher Wicking, director Peter Sykes, and star Virginia Wetherell appear on the audio commentary, moderated by journalist Jonathan Sothcott. Larger horror collections may want to consider, but for most this is optional, at best. (B. Grafius)