The Terror

The most fascinating aspect of this Roger Corman-directed horror schlock-fest is its primary function as a training ground for future luminaries of American cinema. In this fairly typical B-movie from 1963, Francis Coppola, Monte Hellman, Jack Nicholson, and Jack Hill all co-direct (although official credit goes to Corman), while the young Nicholson stars alongside Corman mainstay Dick Miller and fading icon Boris Karloff. Set in the early 1800s, The Terror finds Lt. Duvalier (Nicholson) separated from his regiment near the French coast, where in a fit of delirium, he sees a vision of a beautiful dark-haired woman. With her mesmerizing voice and low-cut bodice, she eventually lures Duvalier to a castle inhabited by the doddering old Baron von Leppe (Karloff). But Duvalier's ghostly woman plays hard to get, randomly disappearing and reappearing. Soon the French officer is hopelessly obsessed and finds himself a guest in the Baron's castle and caught up in a convoluted beyond-the-grave plot. To hear both Nicholson and Bronx native Miller uneasily recite the movie's stilted faux-Regency period dialogue lends some unintended comic relief (only veteran Karloff handles his lines comfortably). Still, the movie has enough offbeat and twisted moments to hook even jaded contemporary horror fans. Although Hammer Films would eventually improve on the cheapo gothic atmosphere of Corman's films, The Terror was an example of early 1960s independent teen scare fare at its cheesy best. Making its latest appearance on Blu-ray with an improved image quality, this is recommended. (M. Sandlin)