Well, it only took what seemed like an eternity, but at long frigging last, Nightmare Castle has finally received the home video treatment it deserves. Who do we have to thank for this miracle? Why, Severin Films, of course — and John Severin and company are well on their way to becoming the greatest indie label of all time with this one!
Nightmare Castle is, without a doubt, the most atmospheric Italian gothic horror film ever. The lighting, the cinematography, the mood… there is no comparison. The haunting score from Ennio Morricone (his first work in the horror field) easily sweeps you away into a period piece full of sex, torture, murder, and ghosts. Nightmare Castle is, and forever shall be, the quintessential formula for perfection in a horror film.
And to think Mario Bava had nothing to do with it.
British actress Barbara Steele delivers two completely bewitching performances as Muriel and Jenny. Muriel, the raven-haired wife of Dr. Stephen Arrowsmith (Swiss actor Paul Muller, a familiar face to fans of retro Euro horror) is the dark beauty of the story — a woman who finds solace in the arms of the beefy stableman, David (peplum regular Rik Battaglia), during her husband’s lengthy trips. When Dr. Stephen leaves once more for Edinburgh to attend a medical conference, Muriel and David head down to the greenhouse for a little late night nookie. However, this night is destined to be their last rendezvous together, as the Arrowsmith’s elderly maid Solange (Helga Liné) has informed the doctor of his wife’s doings and the trip out of town is nothing more than a ruse.
Surprising the lovers, the insanely mad Dr. Arrowsmith captures them both, chaining them in the crypt beneath their castle and torturing them incessantly before finally electrocuting them to death in bed — removing the hearts from their corpses. Enter Jenny, the blonde-haired naïve heroine of the story. Since the wealthy Muriel had bequeathed all of her entire estate to her loony stepsister, Jenny, the good Dr. Arrowsmith sees fit to marry the young girl (come on, men, how many times have you wanted to get it on with your wife’s sister?) so that he can drive her back to the asylum and inherit the castle and funds. Aiding him once again is Solange, who is now young and beautiful thanks to the doctor’s twisted scientific experiments.
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