Marcus P
DVD Review
"And Now the Screaming Starts"
By Marcus Pan
An old curse, a new wife and a splendid castle-like mansion give "And Now the Screaming Starts" an old world feel in the genre of spook masterpieces. Everything that defined the haunted house style story of old is here – spooky portraits hanging on the walls of the old family estate, a spooky mysterious woodsman, severed body parts and ghosts galore!
When Charles Fengriffen brings his new wife, Catherine, home to his family estate in the foothills of England (circa 1795), an old gypsy like curse placed on Charles' grandfather comes to roost as well. A nasty old man with a nasty disposition and inability for remorse, his grandfather's actions breed a malevolence that follows his family until the first "virgin bride" is brought to the old manor. Catherine's fate is, as expected, being the first virgin bride since the time of her husband's grandfather.
The visit to Catherine's wedding bed of an old and angry spirit ushers in the final moments of the curse, following harrowing episodes of ghostly visits, horrible sights and the search by Catherine to discover the truth about the curse that had, up until now, remained secreted in the Fengriffen family books with Charles disbelieving and others not telling due to fear of the spirit.
"And Now the Screaming Starts" was a good film, combining elements of splatter horror and "Night of the Living Dead" style grotesquerie. It also retains an old world flavor without becoming too outdated, bringing out some classic elements of haunted mansion storytelling. Well directed and not nearly as b-cult level as other Dark Sky offerings, "And Now the Screaming Starts" is a good addition to any classic horror aficionado's collection.
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Originally published in Legends #160. Minor edits since.
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
11/21/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Based on the 1970 novella Fengriffen by David Case, this Ray Ward Baker (Asylum, A Night to Remember, The Vault of Horror) is a rare non-anthology Amicus film.
After moving to her fiancé Charles Fengriffen's family estate, Catherine (Stephanie Beacham, Dynasty) keeps seeing an undead man with a birthmarked face, no eyes and a severed right hand. In fact, a spirit goes so far as to assault her on her wedding night. So imagine how she feels when she meets a woodsman who lives on the grounds. He has the same birthmark as her horrible dreams.
Anyone that answers her questions about all of these strange happenings is killed immediately — by axe, by severed hand, by throwing down the stairs, bye bye.
Charles believes that his wife is mentally ill, but since she is with his child, he calls for Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing), who gets close to the truth before the hand shows up again and kills his witness. That's when Charles reveals that his grandfather (Herbert Lom!) once assaulted his servant Silas' wife and sliced off that man's hand as punishment for trying to get revenge. The child grew up to be the woodsman, whose father Silas cursed the Fengriffen family. The next virgin bride to enter their home — Catherine — would be attacked by a ghost, her decency taken and her child possessed. Anyone who tries to help her will die.
The end of this movie is completely deranged. The baby is born looking exactly like Catherine's vision — no eyes, the birthmark and missing a hand — so Charles shoots the woodsman in both eyes before digging up Silas and tearing his corpse apart.
This film was shot in Oakley Court, which you may recognize from several Hammer films and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Today, it's a luxury hotel.
One more fact: producer Max Rosenberg attempted to use the title I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, which is a Harlan Ellison book. How quickly do you think Harlan ran to court to stop him?
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Despite some cheesiness this movie plays it's horror straight. In capable hands it would make a great remake. Is there a Hollywood happy ending? Well, see for yourself. I will watch it again and that's my benchmark for a good movie.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/17/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Amicus horror feature from 1973. As with so many Hammer/Amicus features this has very little genuine horror and quite a bit of anaemic acting in over-lit rooms. The peculiar billing implies Peter Cushing and Herbert Lom are the stars, but in fact the three leads are played by Ian Ogilvy (bland), Stephanie Beacham (screams a lot) and Geoffrey Whitehead (vengeful servant). It's entertaining enough but lacks atmosphere. Lom is terrific in a sadistic cameo, Cushing indifferent as a doctor.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/27/23
Full Review
anthony p
Early 1970s UK horror from Amicus productions who were more known for their horror anthology films such as Asylum and The Beast Must Die.
Here the film isn't an anthology but a straight horror cum period drama.
Set in the 18th Century this film focuses on a rich family haunted by demons from the family past some fifty years prior.
The demons involve graphic scenes of rape and limb dismemberment resulting in a severed hand cropping up in several scenes involving the supposed madness of Stephanie Beacham's character Catherine Fengriffin.
However after a good hour we find she isn't mad at all but the victim of a vendetta resulting from the barbaric acts of her newly related ancestor grandfather (Herbert Lom as Henry Fengriffin).
Peter Cushing makes a brief appearance as surprise, surprise a doctor.
Cushing (the legend that he is) gets top billing for a few minutes appearance in the film that could have been filmed in a day.
The film is slow moving until the story of the Fengriffin family unravels in the final act.
The credits at the beginning reveal the story is based on a book Fengriffin. One wonders if is in print?
The review of Cushing work goes on.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A Slow Moving Atmospheric Amicus Horror, That's More Adult Orientated Than Some Of Their Other Big Films. Its A Tale About, Rape, Revenge, Virgins & Ghosts In A Seemingly Hauted House. This Is A Film That Works With Its Somewhat Basic Story, Clever Atmosphere & It's Good Performances From Its Cast
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
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