Rainey Dawn The film is based on the novel Fengriffen by David Case. I liked all of the film (I never read the novel). I just wish it was a pure ghost story and the the zombified crawling hand was left out of it - otherwise a good (zombie ghost hand) ghost story.I would say in a roundabout way, this film is sorta The Crawling Hand (1963), meets Rosemary's Baby (1968) meets any good ghost story lol. I would have left the idea of a creeping hand to the 1963 film The Crawling Hand. BUT towards the end of the film I can understand why it is in the film - it is sorta important to the film but really did not have to be a part of it.To me, the most horrifying thing that happens in this film is that two innocent women (both virgins) are raped and both bore a child by their rapist. This is creepier than any zombie hand or ghost.I LOVE the sets, costuming, casting, and overall look and general atmosphere of the film... very beautifully created.My only real beef is that zombified ghost hand... I can tolerate it because the rest of the film is pretty good.8/10

Spikeopath -- And Now the Screaming Starts! Was an attempt by Amicus Productions to move away from the Portmantaeu movies that was their stock in trade, to make a horror movie of only one story. The reason is not to compete with Hammer Films, since there really was no rivalry between the two companies, but just to show that they could if they so chose to go that route as well. What is evident is that their inexperience in this department shows greatly, making the film an enjoyable misfire, if ultimately a frustrating experience.Story is set in the late 18th century and newlyweds Charles and Catherine Fengriffen move into Charles' family estate. Almost immediately Catherine starts to have terrifying visions, even experiencing what she feels is definite contact with something not of the natural world. Is she going mad? Or is there something seriously malevolent lurking around the dark corridors of Fengriffen Mansion?What follows is a number of fun and creepy horror sequences very poorly glued together by a minimalist back story and thin characterisations, the Amicus production team just hurtling as quick as possible to the next scene involving Stephanie Beacham being freaked out and screaming. And of course for us to observe her quite magnificent heaving bosom. On reflection it's a collage of more famous and better movies, so a portmanteau movie that's not actually a portmanteau movie! The cast list features Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom and Patrick Magee. Cushing doesn't show up until late in the day, and as classy as he was as an actor, he is phoning it in here. Lom only appears in an extended cameo flashback, which is annoying since the character is deliciously warped, sort of what Emeric Belasco was for Legend of Hell House. While I'm still not sure what Magee's purpose in the film was? Seriously!Beacham and Ian Ogilvy's new marriage just sort of sits there without rhyme or reason, interesting threads such as Cushing taking an interest in sexual relations with demons never get expanded upon, and really there's no big finale to crown the story; though skeleton abuse does hold some macabre enjoyment value. Yet in spite of all its problems, it's still a fun night in with the lights off. Beacham's bosom, severed limbs and a vengeful curse from the past ensure it's worth watching for sure. 6/10

Lee Eisenberg If you saw individual random scenes from this movie and didn't know the title or plot, you might end up assuming that it comes from a Jane Austen novel or something. But "-- And Now the Screaming Starts!" is nothing like that. Oh sure, it's set in England over 200 years ago and deals with a rich guy getting married, but Jane Austen's stories didn't center on curses affecting families.The plot has aristocrat Charles Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy of "Witchfinder General") marrying young Catherine (Stephanie Beacham) and bringing her to his estate in rural England. Once she arrives, strange and horrific things begin occurring. Yeah, it always does seem to happen like that. Still, one has to admire how they set the story up so that you can never be too sure about who's doing what to whom. But for me at least, what's really neat here is when the main idea gets revealed: you think that you now understand everything, but there's still a surprise waiting for you! Does the movie have any problems? Well, I thought that Peter Cushing wasn't used as much as he could have been. For that sort of supporting role, they probably should have cast someone else (then again, Cushing brought a really neat dimension to the movie). But overall, I thought that this wasn't a bad movie. I would trust Hammer and/or Amicus to turn out something worth seeing, and the latter doesn't disappoint here. And if I may say so, Catherine was really hot! Also starring Herbert Lom (that's right: Commissioner Dreyfus in the Pink Panther movies!), Patrick Magee (the wheelchair man in "A Clockwork Orange") and Geoffrey Whitehead (Malcolm McDowell's brother in "The Raging Moon").

Stormy_Autumn "And Now the Screaming Start!" is a stupid, humorous, horror flick that is a real laugh unless you are watching it at 11:45 PM (AMCs Friday Night Fright film). At that time of night it was a little hair-raising and I wondered about my blood pressure.First you meet Charles Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy) and his bride-to-be Catherine (Stephanie Beacham). They arrive at Charles' castle where they are to wed and live happily-ever-after...not! Then we (and Catherine) are introduced to a crawling hand that attacks her. It later kills her Aunt Edith who is encouraging her to go back home.The sins of Henry Fengriffen (Herbert Lom) are revealed to us. Anything he can inflict upon the serfs of his estate he does. This includes taking the wife of a young bridegroom on her wedding night (I'll let you figure out where he takes her). When the groom objects Henry has his hand cut off with an ax. Thus we are introduced to the father of Silas the Woodsman (Silas is Geoffrey Whitehead). We are also introduced to his ancestor who gives the plot the crawling hand.Catherine is raped on her wedding night by an unseen assailant. She becomes pregnant and disturbed. We learn of that new-fangled notion of Psychiatry and Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing). He shows up halfway through the movie to save her.The doctor wants to help her but getting information is very hard. Everyone who has any notion of Henry Fengriffen's sins and story ends up dead. That includes Dr. Whittle (Patrick Magee) the family Solicitor who is on his way to tell the story behind Henry and the curse. He is struck down when that unknown assailant strikes again.By whose hand are they dying? What happens with the baby Catherine is carrying? How does this serious situation get resolved? The ending is weird...but you'll have to see it for yourself!