Welcome back to another review of a hidden gem! I hope you’ve all been enjoying my reviews. This time, I’ve chosen to spotlight a lesser-known production company: Amicus Productions. Based at Shepperton Studios in England, Amicus was a British film production company that operated from 1962 to 1977. They are mostly known for films like The City of the Dead (1960), Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965), and Tales from the Crypt (1972). But I decided to go for a lesser known film, from this era of British horror that was mostly submerged under Hammer Studios, with The Skull (1965).
The Skull is inspired by the 1946 Robert Bloch short story, The Skull of the Marquis de Sade and, with producer Amicus and director Freddie Francis at the helm, delivers another standout piece of British horror cinema. It captivates with its clever storytelling and features the legendary Peter Cushing in a starring role. With its rich gothic horror elements, it’s worth a watch for fans of classic horror.
The story primarily follows Peter Cushing as a collector who acquires the skull of the Marquis de Sade, only to discover that it is haunted by a malevolent spirit. It basically drives him mad in a good Peter Cushing way. I really have to give credit to Freddie Francis for making this film as impressive as it is, along with the strong cast. According to Francis, the “screenplay” by producer Milton Subtosky was essentially just an outline, and much of the story had to be developed during filming and in post-production to reach the appropriate feature length.
While Francis masterfully crafts an eerie atmosphere through his cinematography (especially the shots through the skull’s eyehole) and the set design (the film begins as a period piece before transitioning to a modern-day setting for the main plot), I do feel the film suffers from some inconsistencies in the story and plot, as much of it was developed on the fly during production.
To wrap things up, The Skull (1965) is like that odd little treasure you find at a flea market—something you don’t really expect to love, but somehow, it grabs you. Between the spooky atmosphere, Peter Cushing doing his thing, and a skull that’s clearly up to no good, it’s a wild ride. Sure, the plot wobbles a bit since they were making it up as they went along, but honestly, it just adds to the charm. If you’re into quirky, old-school horror with a bit of a gothic twist, The Skull will definitely leave you thinking, “That was weird, but in the best possible way.” It can easily become one of those films you forget about but really enjoy each time you rewatch it or hear it mentioned.
