First time watching of this curiosity. This was the first and only movie produced by Charlemagne Films, a production company set up by Christopher Lee and veteran Hammer Horror producer Anthony Nelson Keys. It didn't prove to be a success in any level, which quickly seemed to bury Lee's career as a producer. Directed by Peter Sasdy (Taste the Blood of Dracula, Countess Dracula), starring good old pals Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, with Diana Dors in a meaty supporting turn, the basic elements should be there for an entertaining movie. But how does it hold up today?
I have to say the first part of the movie seems to be clunking on quite poorly. Playing out like a fairly ordinary murder mystery, it throws in some unnecessary distracting plot elements and red herrings, and offers hardly anything to do for our top billed stars, Lee and Cushing. They play an investigator and a doctor, who, despite seemingly being the lead characters, don't really get involved with the plot that much, other than meeting with each other a few times and wondering what's going on and what are they doing in this movie.
Luckily the movie improves significantly on the second half, with the action moving to a remote orphanage. In there it develops some atmosphere, has a few creepy scenes, and our stars get into the action a bit more. Beware of spoilers and you'll be in for a few surprises!
Overally it's hard to give this a very positive rating, but at least there were some elements here that could have made an interesting thriller with some horror themes, if it had been pieced together better. With Lee and Cushing having so little to do individually, it might have made sense to combine their parts into one meatier role. As it is, their companionship here reminds of a poor man's version of the vastly superior Horror Express, made one year earlier.
