The Black Torment (1964) (DVD Review)
Directed By: Robert Hartford-Davis
Starring: Heather Sears, John Turner, Ann Lynn
Rated: UR/Region: 1/Widescreen/Number of disc: 1
Available from Redemption
An 18th-century gothic thriller, depicted with the vivid colors and overt eroticism borrowed from the Hammer horror films, THE BLACK TORMENT has emerged from obscurity to become recognized as “a minor classic…basically another retelling of Du Maurier’s Rebecca except with blood, guts, and ghostly goings-on” (britishhorrorfilms.co.uk). Returning to his country estate with his new bride, English nobleman Sir Richard Fordyce finds himself under suspicion from angry locals for the rape and brutal murder of a young girl. Despite Sir Richard’s professed innocence, a growing hysteria unfolds, as strange and even supernatural events begin to occur around him. With no one to turn to and his new wife threatening to shoot him, Sir Richard begins to question his own guilt… and sanity!
This is a Gothic horror tale that wasn’t produced by Hammer, but it still seems to have a lot of the flavor that someone would recognize who does enjoy Hammer and Amicus films. This isn’t a perfect film, it is a bit flawed in more ways than one. Still, this is a film that I think deserves a look for the dark nature and tone of it. There is a certain evil atmosphere from start to finish of the film. The movie might not have the best explanation or finale in the world, but you have some fun getting there to the film’s credit.
The action for this one is at times pretty slow, but you might expect that as a lot of films made similar to this seem to have that same annoying trait to them. These Gothic films like to go for the slow and steady wins the race way of thinking and sometimes a movie has enough other stuff to get over that hump that comes with it. However, while I appreciate the tone and such, this one doesn’t have the bells and whistles to get all the way over the dull hump. It still does deserve respect, it just isn’t my type of film overall.
– Rare interview with Robert Hartford-Davis
