The Oblong Box (1969)
Directed by Gordon Hessler

Film Review

Adapted from an Edgar Allen Poe short story of the same title and featuring a distinguished cast, The Oblong Box delivers far less than it promises on account of its lacklustre script and some consistently amateurish direction.  The film was originally to have been directed by 25-year-old Michael Reeve, the prodigy whose Witchfinder General (1968) had earned him considerable kudos.  Reeve's premature death from barbiturate poisoning whilst the film was in pre-production led him to be replaced by Gordon Hessler, a less experienced and far less capable filmmaker.  It is hard to imagine what Reeve would have made of Poe's nasty revenge tale, but it would most likely have been an outright masterpiece compared with the lumbering, characterless mess that Hessler delivered in his place.

The presence of two horror icons, Vincent Price and Christopher Lee, on screen together for the first time, should have been enough to sell the film.  But, like every other member of the cast, there is a distinct lack of enthusiasm in their performances and some of their acting is positively shambolic.  There is scarcely a shot in the entire film that doesn't offend in some way, either through the leaden acting or imperfect composition.  Hessler may have gone on to be a competent film director but here he shows a distinct lack of visual flair.  The Oblong Box does occasionally come to life and impress just when you least expect it, and the story is a compelling one, but overall the film is a chore to sit through - a totally missed opportunity.

Film Synopsis

England, 1865.  After a disastrous expedition to Africa, Julian Markham returns to his ancestral home with his brother Edward, whom he keeps a prisoner to conceal the fact he was badly disfigured in the course of a voodoo ceremony.  Sir Edward plans to escape by faking his own death, and the scheme might have worked if his corpse hadn't been stolen by a grave robber and sold to scientist Dr Neuhartt for experimentation.  Revived, Sir Edward blackmails Dr Neuhartt into assisting him in his plan of revenge against those who betrayed him...