DKosty123 William Castle did a publicity stunt with this one that can make you forget that there is gothic horror wrapped up in the plot. Was there really another ending? If I were running a fim writing class, I'd ask students to write one.The acting is at times a bit over the top but then the parallels to the 1930's monster film Frankenstein are a bit in show here. The difference here is that there are fewer dead bodys used and plenty of leeches to go around.There is some sort of introverted sexuality in a few scenes but that is to be expected when the conversion of a novel by a writer for Playboy Magazine is involved. It is obvious when the Baron's face is finally revealed that the make up department leaves something to be desired but a William Castle fim is more about fun, and less about big film budgets. All of that is here, with a eye to the fun. This film inspired John Goodman's Matinee years later.

Johan Louwet The most interesting thing about this movie was the whole back story of how Marek became Mr. Sardonicus. I had heard about ghouls before but I thought they were some undead creatures like zombies. I don't know if zombie movies got their inspiration from this movie or legend but I certainly loved the idea of the punishment he got for digging his father's grave just because his former wife wanted that winning lottery ticket so badly and be wealthy. With all this wealth though he couldn't get a cure. The ghoul face of Sardonicus is splendid and really creepy, his mannerisms and actions deliciously cruel what you expect from a man that has become a monster. The actions undertaken on the poor maid and almost ton his own wife by Krull are proof how devilish he has become. Strong performances from Guy Rolfe as Mr. Sardonicus, Oskar Homolka as Krull, Ronald Lewis as Dr. Robert and Lorna Hanson as the maid Anna. The ending might seem typical for the period of time, but I loved it a lot.

mistermemory If you like old horror movies, you should like this one. It has all the ingredients – creepy, remote castle with a torture chamber; a disfigured, mentally unstable villain; a loyal, if not so bright, henchman; a dab of debauchery; a damsel in distress; and a pure-hearted hero. The conceit here is that Baron Sardonicus's face is frozen into a hideous smile and he needs our good doctor to fix him or else his wife (who just happens to be the doctor's old flame) will get the disfigurement treatment herself. They were working with a low budget, but the acting is solid all around, the atmospherics are good, and the story moves quickly enough. I think it compares favorably to the other William Castle movies and the Corman/Poe series. Yes, Castle's appearances in the beginning and three minutes from the end (to conduct the "punishment poll"!) are tiresome, but just ignore them and enjoy the rest.

AaronCapenBanner William Castle directed this gimmick thriller that stars Guy Rolfe as Baron Sardonicus, a wealthy but disfigured man who enlists the help of a surgeon(played by Ronald Lewis) to repair his damaged face. Audrey Dalton plays his beautiful wife, who hates and fears him, and falls for the doctor, and he for her. Oscar Homolka plays a loyal and hulking servant. It turns out that Sardonicus became disfigured after rifling the grave of his father, who was mistakenly buried with a winning lottery ticket, the one that made him rich. Will Sardonicus be punished by the audience vote, as instructed by director Castle? Good cast can't save misfired film that never amounts to much, though does have an effective ending, if you can make it that far!