THE
TINGLER (1959)Director: William Castle
Columbia Home Video
THE
TINGLER (1959)I don't know how somebody sneaked this picture out over at the Columbia staff, but it's lucky for us that he did. Now we have three William Castle movies to enjoy on the DVD format (the other lucky flukes were Warner's sacrificial HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL morsel and Anchor Bay's I SAW WHAT YOU DID). We're especially curious in the case of THE TINGLER because there hasn't even been a God-awful remake in town to "justify" it for Columbia! Well, the old saying tells me not to look a gift horse in the mouth, so let's enjoy what we've been given this time.
Vincent Price is an enthusiastic coroner trying to figure out what happens to people at the extreme height of fear. He discovers that at the moment of crucial terror, a living creature manifests onto the spine of a frightened person. It is the natural ability to scream in fear that reduces this lifeform back down to oblivion, Price rationalizes. He takes the body of a mute woman who died of fright and produces a still-living "Tingler" (as he dubs the creature) from her back; being physically incapable of screaming, the Tingler has survived inside her.
At the film's conclusion, the Tingler winds up loose in a movie theater and terrorizes the audience. This was the point during original screenings that the screen would go black and wired theater seats would buzz and send the viewer into a panic, as Price yelled over the soundtrack, "The Tingler is loose! Scream for your lives!!" to add to the experience. William Castle called this gimmick "Percepto" while promoting the movie. These were the days when the studios gave the ticket buyers some fun for their money.
The DVD is letterboxed only, which cuts off some information on the picture in comparison to the full screen version; but the image quality is so clean and sharp that I loved it just the same. Included is the color sequence wherein an arm oozingly reaches out of a red tub full of blood. The sound is exceptionally good, too.
Extra features are provided as well: Theatrical trailer, talent files, William Castle's alternate voice-over for when the drive-in theaters played the film, and a featurette including co-star Darryl Hickman. Quite a worthy package.
Columbia deserves much credit for putting this unlikely DVD on the market. It's like having a tasty snack that keeps you craving for more. The cover on the amaray case proudly declares: "Spine-Tingling 40th Anniversary Presentation," which would lead you to believe that the marketing people are aware of older titles. If so, I can suggest THE BLACK ROOM (1935), THE RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1943), CURSE OF THE DEMON (1956), THE WEREWOLF (1956), MR. SARDONICUS (1961), CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1964)...the list is endless.
Please Columbia, don't roll over and go to sleep! You've proven that you can do it if you try...and I've got the money ready when you are! (Joe Lozowsky)