The horror anthology is one of my favourite sub-genres, as you can always guarantee that there will be at least one good story even if all the others are rubbish. This is true of FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM, an American production which plays like one of those old Amicus anthologies but with extra gore and gristle. The film makes a good attempt of building up some atmosphere at moments and has a wonderful cast, although some of the tales are a little half-hearted.
Things start off well with Martine Beswick getting a lethal injection. Fans of Hammer's DR JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE will no doubt recognise an older Beswick as being the 'Sister Hyde' of the film. Anyway, a reporter viewing the event travels to Beswick's home town - Oldfield - and discovers a history of bloody murder. Visiting the local library, she meets up with old timer Julian White, played by (yes!) Vincent Price, who then proceeds to rely four tales of terror to her. Price is excellent as the sinister librarian in what was one of his final horror films, as he mutters about books "written in blood on pages of human skin".
The first story is by far the most unpleasant. Starring Clu Gulager (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD), it tells of an old man by the name of Stanley Burnside who has an unhealthy obsession with a girl at work. Taking her out one night, he attempts to kiss her and ends up strangling her. Yet his obsession continues...suffice to say, this is a story that contains necrophilia and is thus pretty unpleasant. This is still a quite nasty and unpleasant tale to watch, only worthwhile for Gulager's portrayal of a creepy, perverted old guy.
The second tale is by far the best. It concerns a bank robber, played by Friday the 13th Part VII's Terry Kiser, who, while fleeing from some hoods, ends up in the wilderness where he meets a hermit who has discovered the secret of eternal life. Kiser wants the secret for himself. This is a clever little moral tale, with one hell of a grisly ending - the sight of Kiser's bandaged body on the hospital bed at the end is the stuff of nightmares! The makeup is very realistic and quite disgusting, and Kiser puts in a good show.
The third tale harks back to Tod Browning's FREAKS, except with a twist. A sideshow performer whose talent is to swallow razor blades and eat glass falls in love with a "normal" girl and runs away, but his powers are the result of a voodoo spell performed by the 'Snake Woman' who runs the carnival. Although the story is quite simplistic, the tale is lifted by some good special effects and the appearance of old-time dwarf actor Angelo Rossitto as a sideshow proprietor.
The third tale is a kind of riff on Stephen King's CHILDREN OF THE CORN, but even grislier. Set at the end of the Civil War, we see Cameron Mitchell (this film does have a cast to die for) and his cronies going around murdering and looting all and sundry. They arrive in Oldfield and are captured by a gang of children, whose parents have been killed in the war. Sadly this tale bears evidence of some heavy cutting by the UK censors and thus much of the impact is lost. Still, it's a not-bad tale.
FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM may not be exceptionally original or as clever as some of the other anthologies around, but it does have a hard edge which those miss. The special effects are good and the film does get frequently bloody and unpleasant. And it's difficult to dislike a film with such a crucial role for Vincent Price! This is an enjoyable if undistinguished entry in the anthology canon.
Things start off well with Martine Beswick getting a lethal injection. Fans of Hammer's DR JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE will no doubt recognise an older Beswick as being the 'Sister Hyde' of the film. Anyway, a reporter viewing the event travels to Beswick's home town - Oldfield - and discovers a history of bloody murder. Visiting the local library, she meets up with old timer Julian White, played by (yes!) Vincent Price, who then proceeds to rely four tales of terror to her. Price is excellent as the sinister librarian in what was one of his final horror films, as he mutters about books "written in blood on pages of human skin".
The first story is by far the most unpleasant. Starring Clu Gulager (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD), it tells of an old man by the name of Stanley Burnside who has an unhealthy obsession with a girl at work. Taking her out one night, he attempts to kiss her and ends up strangling her. Yet his obsession continues...suffice to say, this is a story that contains necrophilia and is thus pretty unpleasant. This is still a quite nasty and unpleasant tale to watch, only worthwhile for Gulager's portrayal of a creepy, perverted old guy.
The second tale is by far the best. It concerns a bank robber, played by Friday the 13th Part VII's Terry Kiser, who, while fleeing from some hoods, ends up in the wilderness where he meets a hermit who has discovered the secret of eternal life. Kiser wants the secret for himself. This is a clever little moral tale, with one hell of a grisly ending - the sight of Kiser's bandaged body on the hospital bed at the end is the stuff of nightmares! The makeup is very realistic and quite disgusting, and Kiser puts in a good show.
The third tale harks back to Tod Browning's FREAKS, except with a twist. A sideshow performer whose talent is to swallow razor blades and eat glass falls in love with a "normal" girl and runs away, but his powers are the result of a voodoo spell performed by the 'Snake Woman' who runs the carnival. Although the story is quite simplistic, the tale is lifted by some good special effects and the appearance of old-time dwarf actor Angelo Rossitto as a sideshow proprietor.
The third tale is a kind of riff on Stephen King's CHILDREN OF THE CORN, but even grislier. Set at the end of the Civil War, we see Cameron Mitchell (this film does have a cast to die for) and his cronies going around murdering and looting all and sundry. They arrive in Oldfield and are captured by a gang of children, whose parents have been killed in the war. Sadly this tale bears evidence of some heavy cutting by the UK censors and thus much of the impact is lost. Still, it's a not-bad tale.
FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM may not be exceptionally original or as clever as some of the other anthologies around, but it does have a hard edge which those miss. The special effects are good and the film does get frequently bloody and unpleasant. And it's difficult to dislike a film with such a crucial role for Vincent Price! This is an enjoyable if undistinguished entry in the anthology canon.