Macabre (1958)

Okay effort by Mr. Castle
William Castle's first major directorial effort is a C effort from a guy who will spend his career making B movies. The plot lumbers along for the first hour and then races to the finish line as Castle frantically ties up all the loose ends and gives us one of the most preposterous endings of an movie. Great performance by Jim Backus who is truly creepy here folks....he is right up there with the kind of squirm in your seat performance like Jackie Early Haley in LITTLE CHILDREN. Too bad that casting directors didn't see the potential here for Mr. Backus to take on more parts like this one; the scene with he and the blind girl as they emerge from their tryst is truly U N C OM F O R T A B L E. For a film that advertised itself by offering $1000 to your loved ones (should you die of fright during the picture), there is not much here that is frightening but, then again, I have to tip my hat to Mr. Castle who always at least TRIED for greatness with each picture he made which is lot...





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