The Masque of the Red Death

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Richard W @rdwoolf Oct 21 "The Masque of the Red Death" is an Edgar Allan Poe short story (which I have not read). This may have been spooky or scary in 1842. But, at least as presented in this 1964 Hammer film version, it does not seem to hold up this way today. It's just kooky. However, this film is visually appealing with its colorful sets and costumes. And I do enjoy these old Hammer films. And seeing Vincent Price in anything is always a worthy endeavor. See more Hector I Oct 6 This film, which is known to be the best in the Corman-Poe series, intrigues me. How is it that it can be so brilliant at times, yet so clumsy at others? It combines two of Poe's short stories, The Masque of the Red Death, a highly aesthetic, frightening fresco, and A Gothic Tale, in which Poe is the heir to the Gothic tradition. Corman adds, as he has done before, another short story, Hop Frop, a rather grotesque but charming little tale. We follow an Italian Renaissance lord played by Vincent Price, who is as convincing as ever in the role of this cruel and refined lord. A disease is ravaging the kingdom (the Red Death) and the prince gathers all his nobles together in order to protect them but also to keep them in his power. In the castle there is also a young peasant girl, whose village has been contaminated by the Red Death. Meanwhile, the grotesque, vulgar, and violent celebrations continue... A series of colorful rooms seems to be the heart of the castle (white, yellow, purple, yellow, and black), but no one can enter them. The prince has made a pact with a well-known dark entity that is supposed to protect him from the evil that lurks... This film is truly a mystery to me. The colorful scenes are beautiful and disturbing, but there aren't enough of them in the film. They are what give it its spice. I even found similarities with Giallo films in the use of color and blood, of course. The rest is sometimes grotesque, no doubt intentionally, but I find that detracts from the story. Perhaps I've seen too many Corman films, but if this is the first one you see, it will no doubt have a different effect on you. It's a film worth seeing nonetheless! See more Kyle M Jul 6 Decent staple adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s literacy with an eerie score and ephemeral lens but the slightly disturbed yet flattened grim vibrance remains that serves biblical justice amid an unexpected societal commentary, upheld with better relevance, spearheaded by Vincent Price’s theatrical conviction under constant caliber to instill judgmental discomfort. (B) See more Madoka A Jun 23 Fantastic. Spooky. Funny. Great product! Really good! See more DanTheMan 2 10/05/2024 Painting a bleak portrayal of human greed and sadism, The Masque of the Red Death moves with a twisted, unselfconscious grace, as stylistically impressive as it is vulgar, naive and highly amusing. I must confess, I have never been a Poe head but I'll be damned if this film doesn't half make me curious to see more adaptations of his works. A gothic tale of two vying dominions, one ruled by a degenerate, debauched man whose perverse pleasures are entirely earthbound, the other unworldly, undeniable, undefiable, or in a word illimitable. Roger Corman's direction is superb, full of elaborate, theatrical staging and grand declarations with a gentle pace to match, with the photography of Nicolas Roeg oozing with all the hues of blood. Vincent Price delivers a masterclass of villainy as Prince Prospero, one that eats up the scenery a treat, crafting an aura of terror all the while the music by David Lee adds to the atmosphere. While The Masque of the Red Death doesn’t lean too far into camp, the result is akin to that of Shakespearean tragedy and a mighty fine one at that. See more 05/31/2024 Awesome! BY FAR Corman's best. See more Read all reviews

The Masque of the Red Death

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