terrible... so disappointed.

just watch it!

Dreadfully Boring

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

In the Eighteenth Century, after the death of the Marquis de Sade, the phrenologist Pierre (Maurice Good) robs his head from the grave and removes the flesh at home, but dies in a horrible way. In 1965, in London, the dishonest antiques dealer Anthony Marco (Patrick Wymark) offers to the collector and writer of occultism Christopher Maitland (Peter Cushing) a book with skin made cover about the Marquis de Sade. On the next day, he returns and asks a small fortune for the skull of the Marquis de Sade but without any proof that belonged to him. Maitland does not accept and he offers for half the price until the next day. Maitland meets his friend and also collector Sir Matthew Phillips (Christopher Lee), who tells that the skull had been stolen from him but he does not want it back since he was free of its evil force. He advises Maitland to stay away from the skull otherwise he would be possessed by its evil spirit. But the fate puts the skull on Maitland´s hands affecting his entire life in tragic way."The Skull" is a creepy British horror film by Amicus to compete with Hammer with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. The screenplay is well-written and the tragic conclusion is announced from the moment Maitland meets his fellow collector and friend and keeps the interest on the skull. The "Kafkanian" judgment of Christopher Maitland is another plus in the story. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "A Maldição da Caveira" ("The Curse of the Skull")

I always liked 'The Skull' and watched it many times during the '70's and '80's when it was shown on TV quite regularly. Unfortunately it's probably been around 20 years since I last saw it, until earlier this evening when it was shown on the Horror channel. It is still as brilliant as I remembered.The base story is taken from real life - the skull of the infamous Marquis was indeed exhumed for scientific examination (phrenology - the belief that a persons character can be determined by the shape of their skull, which was popular many years ago) and subsequently lost, its whereabouts remaining unknown to this day.The late, great Peter Cushing plays a researcher into the paranormal who becomes compelled to own the skull when it is offered to him (after convincing himself of its provenance) even though he knows it could destroy him. The Marquis may be dead, but evil lingers on in his skull.I like the film - its overall style, direction, cinematography, everything. It is quirky, unusual, original (I wonder if the 'skull view' was the inspiration for the opening scene in John Carpenter's 'Halloween'?).Some have criticised the films slow pacing, but I think it is appropriate for a psychological horror. It would also have been made to be viewed properly in a cinema, unlike so much formulaic straight to video stuff that is churned out today.'The Skull' has stood the test of time for 50 years and I think it will probably do so for another 50 years.

Freddie Francis directs an Amicus Production horror that has all the elegance and mood of a modern Gothic tale. Based off of Robert Bloch's story titled 'The Skull of the Marquis de Sade' the film follows an Occult Researcher (played by Peter Cushing) who crosses paths with a particular item of interest from a "mutual" friend of his, and Christopher Lee's, who sells him rare artifacts of the strange and wonderful. This particular item is the skull of the marquis de Sade and it comes with a terrifying back story of possession and madness that soon begins to add another story to the curse's legendary reputation. The film is a great execution of all the aspects that make cinema the powerful medium it is. The shot styles, the lighting, the set dressing, the music, and the performances are one of a kind. Horror buffs will be delighted with Francis' wonderful direction that truly upholds the 'show don't tell' ethos of film. Albeit it is a bit of a slow-burner and there isn't much subtext to walk away with. If anything it's a great little morsel to satisfy any cravings you may have for an old school horror that sets the mood for a dark and stormy night at home.

The Skull is directed by Freddie Francis and adapted to screenplay by Milton Subotsky from the short story The Skull of the Marquis de Sade written by Robert Bloch. A Technicolor/Techniscope production, it stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Jill Bennett and Patrick Wymark. Music is scored by Elisabeth Lutyens and cinematography by John Wilcox.When collector of occult artifacts Christopher Maitland (Cushing) acquires the Skull of the Marquis de Sade, he gets more than he bargained for.......Out of Amicus Productions, The Skull represents one of the more successful ventures for the studio away from the portmanteau formula they would become regarded for. That's not to say it's without problems, because it is far from flawless, but with Francis casting an ethereal sheen over the production, the film does hold tight as a 60s Gothic chiller of some worth. Actually it's one of the rare films that is reviewed quite accurately by the majority of writers who have written about it. Most agree that the material isn't quite up to being stretched to a feature length film, the long passages of silence in the story proving to be a necessity rather than a creepy tactic by the makers. The string work effects are cheesy, Lee is underused and the rest of the cast away from Cushing are thinly drawn. But it does overcome its flaws.There are a number of great things within the picture. The use of Skull-Cam that gives us POV from inside the skull itself, works really well, as does the colour tones that Francis uses whenever the skull is holding court. A set piece involving a character falling through stained glass is very well constructed (good stunt work too), and Lutyens musical score is top draw-nerve jarring stuff. Then there is Cushing himself, forced to react for the most part to nothing more than a prop, he gives much by way of visual acting, totally mesmerising for the near silent last third of the piece. It's a very under valued turn from Cushing as it features a different string to his acting bow.With shady characters, suspenseful silences (the opening pillaging of de Sade's grave is excellently macabre) and visual treats aplenty, The Skull is well worth checking out. 7/10