The Black Torment (1964)

A lord returns to his manor with his new wife, to hear rumors that he had already secretly returned and had committed several murders. Has he lost his mind, or is something dark afoot ?

Director:

Robert Hartford-Davis

Writers:

Derek Ford, Donald Ford

Stars:

Heather Sears, John Turner, Ann Lynn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Heather Sears	...	Lady Elizabeth Fordyke
John Turner	...	Sir Richard Fordyke
Ann Lynn	...	Diane
Peter Arne	...	Seymour
Norman Bird	...	Harris
Raymond Huntley	...	Colonel John Wentworth
Annette Whiteley	...	Mary
Francis De Wolff	...	Black John (as Francis de Wolff)
Joseph Tomelty	...	Sir Giles Fordyke
Patrick Troughton	...	Ostler - Regis
Roger Croucher	...	Apprentice - Brian
Charles Houston	...	Jenkins
Derek Newark	...	Coachman - Tom
Kathy McDonald	...	Kate (as Kathy MacDonald)
Jack Taylor	...	Soldier

Storyline

A lord returns to his manor with his new wife, to hear rumors that he had already secretly returned and had committed several murders. Has he lost his mind, or is something dark afoot ?

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Plot Keywords:

murder | revenge | ghost | ancestral home | 1780s | 

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Taglines:

A Creature From the Grave Bears Witness to Murder

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 March 1965 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Estate of Insanity

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compton Films, Tekli British Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last film of Joseph Tomelty.

User Reviews

Forgotten British horror masterpiece!

Please note that I'm deliberately exaggerating a bit in this user comment. "The Black Torment" might not be a genuine horror masterpiece – it does has its flaws and shortcomings – but this film is so drastically overlooked and underrated that I wish to praise it a little extra, hoping that fans of classic Gothic horror will go through more efforts to track it down! This film really deserves a wider audience and it's not because Hammer or Amicus studios didn't produce a certain horror film that it's automatically inferior. "The Black Torment" is a hugely atmospheric and beautifully photographed horror/costume drama directed by Robert Hartford-Davis. Noticing the director's name alone is a surprise already, since Harford-Davis' other horror films ("Incense of the Damned" and "The Fiend") were both irredeemably bad and quite ugly to look at. This film is a world of difference; stylish, compelling and featuring several sequences that qualify as genuinely unsettling. Sir Richard Fordycke returns to his wealthy father's estate with a new bride because his first wife sadly committed suicide for not being able to bear children. He doesn't receive a warm welcome, though, since several superstitious villagers spotted him during his absence and he supposedly even killed a local girl. Shortly after his return, Richard himself starts to have visions of his deceased wife walking through the garden. The whole explanation to the "mystery" is rather rational and unsurprising, but it's the sinister atmosphere that sticks to you. The scene in which the veiled 'ghost' rides through the woods screaming out the word "MURDERER" truly sent cold shivers down my spine! That definitely is the most wonderful effect a horror movie can give you! Highly recommended!