The Terror (1963)

RELEASED IN 1963 and directed by Roger Corman & Francis Ford Coppola (with the help of a few others), “The Terror” stars Jack Nicholson as a young officer in Napoleon's Army who is infatuated by an intriguing woman (Sandra Knight) he meets on the coast of the Confederation of the Rhine. After a run-in with a witch (Dorothy Neumann) he tracks the mysterious girl to the castle of an elderly Baron riddled with guilt (Boris Karloff).

INTERESTING BEHIND-THE-SCENES INFO: After the shooting for Corman’s “The Raven” was completed, the castle sets were still available for a few days before demolition. Corman acted quickly to concoct a script via Leo Gordon and enlisted 75 year-old Karloff, who costarred in “The Raven.” Boris later said it was amusing the way Roger dashed around with him & the other principles filming scenes just two steps ahead of the wreckers.

After a few days of shooting, Corman couldn’t film the rest of the movie himself due to union legalities, so he enlisted several young filmmakers to assist, including sending Coppola up to the Big Sur area for eleven days. Sets from other AIP movies were also used, notably “The Haunted Palace” with Vincent Price.

COMMENTARY: I’ve heard people complain about the story supposedly not making sense, but I found the plot easy to follow and even had it figured out by the halfway point, not including the dubious curveball thrown-in at the end (you’ll know what I mean).

As my title blurb points out, “The Terror” is very Hammer-esque, albeit made in California and on a lower budget than the typical Hammer flick (which weren’t expensive films by any means). So if you like haunting Gothic horror with mysterious castles, ghosts and witches in the mold of Hammer flicks you’ll probably like “The Terror.” It’s particularly reminiscent of “Dracula, Prince of Darkness” (1966), which came out three years later. As far as 60’s spooky MOOD goes, this movie’s superb, which includes the Gothic score (Ronald Stein). Unfortunately, Nicholson’s voice is noticeably incongruous and his lines are sometimes delivered in a stilted manner, but that’s a minor quibble.

THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hours & 21 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles (studio), Santa Monica, Point Lobos & Palos Verdes Peninsula, California. WRITERS: Gordon and Jack Hill. ADDITIONAL CAST: Dick Miller (Stefan) and Jonathan Haze (Gustaf).

GRADE: B/B-