THE
FACELESS MONSTER (1965)Directed by Mario Caiano
Retromedia Entertainment
THE
FACELESS MONSTER (1965)Barbara Steele starred in a mere
nine Italian gothics in the course of her career (under so many titles it is
difficult to keep them all straight). Her horror canon started with the legendary
BLACK SUNDAY under the direction of Mario Bava and was followed by THE TERROR
OF DR. HICHCOCK by Riccardo Freda (made DURING the filming of Fellini's 8-1/2)!
She would also go on to make LONG HAIR OF DEATH and CASTLE OF BLOOD (both for
Antonio Margheriti), THE GHOST (Freda again), TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE
(aka FIVE GRAVES FOR A MEDIUM/Director Ralph Zucker), THE SHE BEAST (Paul Maslansky)
and her final hurrah ANGEL FOR SATAN (Camill
o
Mastrocinque). However, THE FACELESS MONSTER (by Mario Caino, NOT Allan Grunewald)
is easily one of her finest turns in the horror genre.
Steele gives a dual performance here as both the conniving Mrs. Steven Arrowsmith and as her own sister, a demented blonde named Jenny. When Steele was under contract to 20th Century-Fox at the beginning of her career, the studio had her hair dyed blonde. "I felt like a total lie" she said to this writer. After a difference of opinion with director Don Siegel while making FLAMING STAR with Elvis Presley, she abruptly bolted from the picture altogether and flew to New York and then Rome. "In Italy I felt so endorsed and carefree. Isn't it strange it would be this period in my life that I would make all these horror pictures?"
This
opus was known in Italy as GLI AMANTI D'OLTRETOMBA [LOVERS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE]
and was called NIGHTMARE CASTLE stateside. This is easily one of her finest
efforts. In the United Kingdom it was known as NIGHT OF THE DOOMED as well as
THE FACELESS MONSTER.
THE FACELESS MONSTER begins with
the original Italian credits which resemble medieval characters from a deck
of Tarot cards. The film itself is a valentine to Barbara Steele's sadomasochistic
image in horror, as we see her chained to walls, flagellated with chains, starved,
disfigured with acid and finally with her lover, the swarthy, chestnut-haired
gardener (Rik Battaglia, who very recently passed away in 2003), reduced to
ashes in a crematorium. Talk about a mad doctor scorned! She is placed along
with her consort in a potted plant but one can't keep a prototype Lady Macbeth
and said Object of her Affliction from coming back to wreck havoc and raise
holy Hell itself. 
Barbara Steele's ACTUAL voice is used for the character of Jenny, something rare in her horror films as most were shot MOS. This DVD version is definitive and runs the entire 100 minutes. There is a small photo gallery courtesy of Eric Hoffman. There are six chapter stops in total.
Helga Line portrays Dr. Arrowsmith's maid who goes from horror hag to sexy senorita in this piece. The duality of Steele is matched but not surpassed by Spain's sultry siren. Line would go on to become a legend of Spanish B-Films like HORROR EXPRESS, HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB and THE LORELEI'S GRASP. European horror favorite Paul Müller also stars.
Ennio Morricone composed an original score which is rich and seductive. Also available on CD, one can find it coupled with L'UMANOIDE from RCA/BMG Ariola S.p.A. The end result is perfection itself, the Valentine's Day Dirge of the Damned.
Fred Olen Ray is one of the savviest men in the business and continues to give us all the very best from Retromedia Entertainment at affordable prices, too! The black and white visual quality is outstanding and the film is properly letterboxed (European Widescreen 1:66.1). Grazie ancora, Fred! (Christopher Dietrich)