Mansion of the Doomed (1976)

Director:

Michael Pataki

Writer:

Frank Ray Perilli (written by)

Release Date:

October 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Keep An Eye Out For Dr. Chaney ... He Needs It!

Plot:

An insane surgeon finds himself up to his armpits in eyeballs after guilt prompts him to begin removing...

Plot Keywords:

Transplant | Guilt | Eye | Eyeball | Daughter

Cast

Richard Basehart	...	Dr. Leonard Chaney
Gloria Grahame	...	Katherine
Trish Stewart	...	Nancy Chaney
Lance Henriksen	...	Dr. Dan Bryan
Al Ferrara	...	Al
JoJo D'Amore	...	Georgio (as Jo Jo D'Amore)
Donna Andresen	...	Sylvia Porter
Marilyn Joi	...	Miss Mathews
Katherine Fitzpatrick	...	Elevator Victim
Katherine Stewart	...	The Hitchhiker
Vic Tayback	...	Detective Simon
Simmy Bow	...	Ambulance Doctor
Arthur Space	...	Wino
Del Negro	...	Black Intern
Libby Chase	...	Libby

Also Known As:

Eyes
Eyes of Dr. Chaney
Eyes of the Living Dead (Philippines: English title)
House of Blood
Massacre Mansion (UK) (video title)
The Terror of Dr. Chaney (UK)

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Charles Band Productions

Movie Connections:

References Les yeux sans visage (1960)

Very Disturbing Horror Gem...

I watch about 2-4 films a day and most of those are horror films. I found a cheap VHS of "Mansion of the Doomed" and bought it since it sounded interesting. This film is truly disturbing and gory, and there are precious few horror movies i can truly say have accomplished that task.

The story involves a doctor and his young daughter (early 20's i guess), and the car accident which leaves her blind. He vows to restore her vision and will do anything to achieve that goal. People begin to disappear (including her fiance) and when they wake up in a jail-like cage they have only empty sockets where their eyes once were. The only problem is that his daughter's vision from the transplants is only temporary and degenerates back to blindness every time. With every transplant his daughter becomes more scarred and can now guess what her father has been doing. More and more people begin to disappear and his jail-like cage in his mansion is becoming crowded. The ending is predictable but is quite effective.

If you are sensitive when it comes to your eyes, then this film will disturb you. Even hardcore fans of the horror genre will find it difficult not to be shocked at times. This film will leave you shocked and disturbed long after the credits roll.

Apparently this was an early Charles Band production, he later formed Empire Pictures and Full Moon pictures. I am surprised I had never heard of this lost gem before. Hopefully someday it will get a worthy re-release.