The first and best teaming of horror stars Karloff and Lugosi was this bizarre, haunting, and hypnotic film by director Ulmer.
Not an adaptation of Poe but rather a strikingly effective evocation of the twisted world of his literature, the story concerns a young couple, Peter (Manners) and Joan (Wells), who meet mysterious scientist Dr. Vitus Verdegast (Lugosi) while on their honeymoon in Budapest. The trio wind up at the
home of Verdegast's old "friend" Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff), an architect living atop a mountain in a modernistic, Art Deco mansion.
As it turns out, Poelzig is the leader of a satanic cult who, as a commander during WWI, caused the capture ...
Released:
1934
Rated:
NR
Length:
70 mins