More old school horror from Cheezy Flicks!
Doctor Blood’s Coffin (1961)
Directed By: Sidney J. Furie
The Prologue
I have been dared to open, Doctor Blood’s Coffin, so as a result I naturally do what the intention of the film’s slogan was meant to make me do and opened it up. Now before anyone doesn’t get what I’m saying here, I didn’t actually open up anyone’s coffin (I’m not a fan of those), I simply popped in the DVD of the film titled that into my trusty DVD player! See? I’m a loner, Dottie, a rebel! And the film coming from 1961 probably ends up with the result that most old school films gets from me, but ya know what? It’s not THAT bad in my opinion..I mean, yeah, I’d rather have a current film but I can appreciate this.
The Movie
After being expelled from medical school in the big city, Dr. Peter Blood returns to his childhood home in Porthcarron, a remote village in Cornwell. Where he is free to continue his dangerous and unauthorized experiments on people. While his father, the small towns doctor, is excited about his sons arrival, the mysterious disappearances of several citizens and medical supplies have the entire town on edge.
Well to spite being rattled with the typical slower pace that all these older films seem to have, this one brings a little more to the table than one might think at a glace. I mean for one, I liked the actors better than I usually like the actors in these old movies, so that right there made Chuck a happy boy for the hour and a half I sit down with a cold Dr.Pepper in hand and a burrito in the other watching this film from yesteryear. From a time before the internet and such awesome things as Facebook (one day someone will read this review and that reference will be dated)! So it’s in it’s own way innocent by that standards. Innocent, but not flawless.
The film also has a little bite more gore here and there than you’d be expecting for a film from 1961. That shocked me and impressed me to be completely honest with you, as I figured it would rely much more on style than it would blood. Still tame by today’s measuring markers, but pretty cool for it’s time. The film also does an OK job building a bit of tension and working a good story in between our evil doctor and his nurse. It’s half way suspenseful, but only half way.
However I’m still very sad to report to you old school fan boys (and girls), that it’s simply just too slow for my own personal and very very picky taste! I tried to be more open minded and I do admit it’s better than a lot of the older films I’ve seen, but still it just doesn’t tickle me in all those places I as a movie reviewer like to be tickled. I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t get enough out of it to fully enjoy what I was seeing. Still, it’s pretty good for 1961!
The Conclusion
I know a lot of classic horror lovers across the net are tossing lemons at me in their minds right now, but I can’t help it. The film wasn’t awful to me, it was just slowing moving and just kinda there at times. Still, I’ll once again say if you like older stuff you’ll probably like this. And if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, get it at Cheezy Flicks.
The Rating (5.5/10)
Chucks website
