Chamber of Horrors / Brides of Fu Manchu, The (DVD)
Steve Barton
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Reviewed by Uncle Creepy
Starring (Chamber of Horrors) Patrick O’Neal, Cesare Danova, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Laura Devon; (The Brides of Fu Manchu) Christopher Lee, Douglas Wilmer, Heinz Drache, Marie Versini
Directed by (Chamber of Horrors 1966) Hy Averback; (The Brides of Fu Manchu 1966) Don Sharp
Distributed by Warner Home Video
“Ladies and Gentleman,
The motion picture you are about to see contains scenes so terrifying the public must be given grave warning. Therefore, the management has instituted visual and audible warnings at the beginning of each of the Four Supreme Fright Points.
The Fear Flasher is the visual warning. The Horror Horn is the audible warning. Turn away when you see the FEAR FLASHER! Close your eyes when you hear the HORROR HORN!”
Now that is a classic way to open a movie! Warner Bros. was no doubt tearing a page out of the old William Castle text book with that one! Still, you have to admire the showmanship of it all, no? And being the true showman that they are they’ve given us quite a treat with this double feature DVD as it shines a sorely needed spotlight of two of horror’s most underrated tales!
1966’s Chamber of Horrors tells the tale of of a murderer named Jason(!) who chops off his own hand (FEAR FLASHER! HORROR HORN!) to escape from authorities. Once free he fashions his new gooey stump with all manners of implements to chop, skewer, and hook his latest victims. Can super sleuth Tony Draco (Danova) stop him before it’s too late?
Oh the suspense! Truth be told the aforementioned “Four Supreme Fright Points” are insanely tame by today standards, but for it’s time this was some serious stuff! Chamber of Horrors is a sick little thriller that’s gotten wrongly buried over the years. Riddled with murder, and seasoned with a dash of necrophilia, this is one gem from days gone by that you really shouldn’t miss.
Next up, Christopher Lee in The Brides of Fu Manchu. Simply put, you did not mess with Fu. This dude would have you tortured for looking at him the wrong way. In this 1966 classic, Manchu kidnaps the daughters of some prominent scientists and threatens to kill them unless they meet his demands. What does he want? What do all super villains want? He needs them to build him a Death Ray so that he can use it to take over the world! Aw, hell yeah!
Of the five Fu Manchu films to come out during this Era Brides is without question the best. Lee’s portrayal is appropriately nefarious and if you aren’t having a good time while watching this slice of vintage cinema cheese than I have got nothing for ya, man. Check your pulse. See a doctor. Something is definitely wrong with you.
There are no extras to speak of, but honestly to get quality copies of these movies on one DVD for one low price? I couldn’t care less.
Buy it, pop it in, and dig on two of our genre’s wackiest big bads! Let’s hope we see more of these double feature sets from Warner. There are still lots of great films that haven’t made it to DVD yet, and this is an awesome start!
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