You won't be disappointed!

Wonderful character development!

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Devout, but deranged and sexually repressed clergyman Father Xavier Meldrum (superbly played by Anthony Sharp) resorts to such foul things as blackmail and murder after hearing a shocking confessional from troubled young lass Jenny Welch (an appealing portrayal by the fetching Susan Penhaligon).Director Peter Walker relates the absorbing premise at a steady pace, does his usual expert job of crafting a macabre atmosphere, grounds the deliciously twisted premise in a believable workaday reality, and stages the brutal murder set pieces with grisly aplomb. David McGillivray's bold script not only offers some spot-on scathing commentary on the abuse of power, religious hypocrisy, and deep-seated repression and thwarted desire, but also pulls off a genuinely startling doozy of a surprise grim ending. The excellent acting by the top-rate casts keeps this movie humming: Stephanie Beachum adds plenty of charm and spark as Jenny's perky and concerned sister Vanessa, Norman Ashley contributes a likable turn as the friendly Father Bernard Cutler, and Sheila Keith makes the most out of her juicy supporting part as sinister one-eyed housekeeper Miss Brabazon. Kudos are also in order for Peter Jessop's polished score and the spirited shuddery score by Stanley Myers. Recommended viewing for both British horror cinema aficionados in general and Pete Walker fans in particular.

HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN (aka THE CONFESSIONAL MURDERS) is a highly underrated British horror movie directed by Pete Walker.I bought this movie as part of the Pete Walker Collection, a wonderful coffin shaped boxset containing this movie, along with FRIGHTMARE, THE HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN, THE HOUSE OF WHIPCORD and DIE SCREAMING MARIANNE. The said boxset is loaded with extras and is a must have for any fan of the director's movies.In this movie Pete Walker continues to demonstrate that he, along with the equally great director, Norman J. Warren, were the natural successors to Hammer, Amicus and Tigon. The three companies in question had dominated the British horror movie industry for over a decade, having made some truly superb productions. All three had ceased to produce horror movies at this point, paving the way for the two mentioned excellent directors to make independent movies now rightly appreciated as minor classics of low-budget cinema.HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN contains the most interesting premise found in a Pete Walker movie - the consequence of using religion to suppress sexual emotion.The plot involves a troubled young girl, Jenny, attending confession at the local church for the first time. The priest she confesses to develops an obsession with her. He first blackmails her using the tape recording of the confession and then moves on to murder. As the priest's obsession grows, Jenny's family and friends choose to believe her word over that of a trusted figure of the community. Everyone thinks Jenny is going insane and only the viewer sees the truth. The tension reaches crescendo and erupts into a climax that refuses to take the easy route out.In a rare moment for Walker, he puts atmosphere ahead of everything else in the horror aspect of this production.Walker's technique for developing atmosphere in this movie is the use of dark, downbeat, seemingly claustrophobic locations that contain evil, and attract and trap unknowing victims before going in for the kill (pun intended).Walker also borrows from the Italian "Giallo" movies, especially with the POV shots of an unseen killer as well as the black gloves.The killing scenes are graphic as pointed out by other users, but they are tamer than those found in most of Walker's other movies, with little emphasis on gore or impact. This is made up for by the clear character-driven context they are presented in.For dealing with the psychological aspects of the movie, Walker relies on the actors to carry the story. And there are superb actors here.Anthony Sharp gives the best performance of his career as the sexually-frustrated priest. This is a significant departure from his usual supporting roles as an authority figure in the form of a government official. He shows us a very self-tormented man, indulging in self-pity due to guilt at his own choices, harbouring perverse desires and feeling resentful of his mother for persuading him to become a priest. In other scenes, he shows someone who is cold, heartless, twisted and merciless. At all times, he gives everyone except the viewer and his victims the impression of being the genuinely respectable man of the moral high ground that people in the community regard him as.Susan Penhaligon gave an equally great performance as the troubled young girl, Jenny. Her fear and torment are conveyed perfectly. In addition, she gives her character a certain level of naiveté that makes both her character more convincing and the viewer sympathetic.Sheila Keith, a veteran of Pete Walker's movies, gives another superb chilling performance. This time she plays the priest's housekeeper and takes care of his elderly mother. She is given one of the best lines in the movie and it can be found in the memorable quotes section.On the downside, Stephanie Beacham is wasted in a throwaway role that fails to make sufficient use of her talent and charisma.Another negative factor was the casting of Norman Eshley to play the role of the younger priest. Norman Eshley was great in the TV sitcom, GEORGE AND MILDRED, and is clearly great at playing roles in comedic settings elsewhere. But serious acting roles are not his forte.Overall, HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is a vastly underrated horror movie by Pete Walker. It is a must-see for all his fans and fans of British horror movies from the heyday of British cinema in the 1960s and 1970s.

A rip-roaring Pete Walker special and definitely not to be missed. A scary yarn of a mad priest's reign of terror amongst his parishioners in a 1970s London suburb, this is tightly plotted, economically written and well acted by an ensemble of veteran English actors.Stephanie Beacham, Mervyn Johns (Welsh!), Ivor Salter, Hilda Barry, Sheila Keith (of course)among others. Top honours go to Anthony Sharp for his demented and tormented loony cleric and also to the gorgeous Susan Penhaligon as the object of his desires. There is a scene when she clambers out of bed during the night at the sound of a disturbance. You might want to use the freeze-frame before she puts on her dressing gown. Stunningly beautiful!! Well worth your time and a great addition to Pete's portfolio.

The charming story of a priest.....who murders people! Meet Father Xavier Meldrum from the Church of the Sacred Heart. He uses religious means to bump off his enemies such as a poisoned wafer, incense burner and rosary beads. Splendid performance by Anthony Sharp (remember him as the government minister in A Clockwork Orange?) as the obsessed vicar and a good turn by Pete Walker regular Sheila Keith as a one eyed housekeeper. A well done musical score by Stanley Myers is also featured. Remember this movie the next time you go to confession!