The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964)

Director:

Del Tenney

Writer:

Del Tenney (writer)

Release Date:

May 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

Relatives gather in an old house for the reading of a will, but the "dead" man comes back to life and starts killing.

Plot Keywords:

Will | Death | Crypt | Fear | Dog

Cast

Roy Scheider	...	Philip Sinclair (as Roy R. Scheider)
Helen Warren	...	Abigail Sinclair (as Helen Waren)
Robert Milli	...	Bruce Sinclair
Margot Hartman	...	Vivian Sinclair
Hugh Franklin	...	James Benson
Linda Donovan	...	Letty Crews
Dino Narizzano	...	Robert Harrington
Candace Hilligoss	...	Deborah Benson
J. Frank Lucas	...	Seth Lucas
George Cotton	...	Constable Winters
Jane Bruce	...	The Cook
Paul Haney	...	Chief Constable Barnes
William Blood	...	Minister (as Williiam B. Blood)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Stamford, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Deal Productions

Trivia:

Candace Hilligoss was five and a half months pregnant while she was making this film.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Son of Svengoolie: The Curse of the Living Corpse (1964) (#1.109)" (1981)

Grandpappy of the slasher films?

Del Tenney brought us that abysmal dreck Horror Of Party Beach.Curse Of The Living Corpse is the other part of the double feature.Surprisingly it is an above average thriller worth checking out.

Rufus Sinclair suffered from catalepsy.He also suffered from impacted rhoids cause he was a mean old cuss.He abused his entire family.Everyone lived in fear or hatred of the old man.

Anyway old Rufus has seemingly kicked the bucket(died that is).However in his will he had certain stipulations that had to be carried out just in case he was suffering from a catatonic fit.If these conditions weren't met he would return from the grave and kill his family in the ways they feared the most.

Of course the conditions weren't met.A member of the household staff winds up being beheaded and her head is served on a breakfast tray.The eldest Sinclair is dragged to death behind a horse,one is roasted alive in her bed, one is stabbed and another is drowned.Has old Rufus come back from the grave or is it somebody else?You'll be guessing until the end.

There is a lot to like about this film.It is never boring and is well directed (surprise) and the acting for the most part is top notch.I would have liked to seen the comedy relief dragged behind a horse to their deaths.The outdoor scenes are magnificent and the moody black and white photography is top notch.As a bonus there is also an amazing amount of skin in one scene(for 1963).

Roy Scheider is in his first starring role and Candace Hilligoss is fresh from Carnival Of Souls(also highly recommended).

Catch this one if you can.