Nightmare Castle (1965)

After taking a break from the Undead Collection that I have been struggling through for a couple of weeks to enjoy some great George Romero zombie flicks, I figured it was time to get back to it. While still not in the mood to see anything vampire related, I knew that I would be in luck with this set because over half of the movies I have screened so far have absolutely nothing to do with vampires. I was right again and spotted one of my favorites, the Italian Gothic Thriller, Nightmare Castle starring the beautiful Barbara Steele.

Plot/ A sadistic count tortures and murders his unfaithful wife and her lover, then removes their hearts from their bodies. Years later, the count remarries and the new wife experiences nightmares and hauntings. The ghosts of the slain return to exact their bloody revenge, until their hearts are destroyed.

Nightmare Castle is an excellent film with a great story that provides the viewer with plenty of mystery and atmosphere. Steele, one of my all-time favorite and arguably the most beautiful Scream Queen of all, plays a duel role as an unfaithful wife, who is tortured and murdered by her scientist husband and the wife's mentally fragile sister. This remains a great example of what the supernatural thriller can be. Add in a solid overall cast, stylish cinematography and an above average musical score and you have all of the elements needed to create a movie that will stand the test of time.

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