Customer Reviews

Masque of the Red Death [DVD]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Undoubtedly the 1964 film 'The Masque of the Red Death'stands as Roger Corman's masterpiece of richly-stylized gothic horror, melding his free adaptation of the Poe story of the same name with the cruel tale of 'Hop Frog'. The atmosphere acheived in this film , with it's sumptuous sets, costumery and heightened sense of lapidary colour, is quite incomparable. From the opening scene in the mist-shrouded twilight of the plague-haunted mediaeval countryside where the old woman gathering wood encounters the crimson-cowled figure of the Red Death sat beneath a tree drawing the tarot cards which signify his role as divinely-appointed dispenser of fate unto humankind, an eerie and apocalyptic drama unfolds to compelling effect: the simplicity and innocence of the village-girl Francesca contrasts sharply with the luxuriant and corrupting evil within Prince Prospero's turreted castle as a tale as starkly and boldly delineated as some Mystery-cycle or morality-play of the High Middle Ages, is enacted. Vincent Price's depiction of Prince Prospero, a nobleman who has pledged his eternal soul to the Lord of this World, the 'Lord of Flies', is absolutely masterly. Likewise the beautiful Hazel Court provides a powerful portrayal of Juliana who vies with Prospero for the infernal favours of Satan vowing herself as the bride of hell in the black chapel. Sin and innocence, sanctity and abomination, freedom and fate, survival and mortality - all is in the balance and over all the red-cowled figure of the Red Death presides dealing the cards which are the lots of inexorable and inescapable destiny. Prince Prospero's dark allegiance and pact with his satanic Master avails him not at all when the clock strikes midnight and despite his arrogant pomp, power and riches he too must join in the final dance - the Dance of Death!
The sheer visual beauty of many scenes of this film will impress themselves vividly upon your imagination in a lasting way, some examples being the suite of yellow, blue, purple and black chambers, Juliana's hallucinatory and daemonic dream sequence and the final sequence where the various avatars of Death are beheld upon the foggy heath. The acting is of a very high standard and the characters are well realised throughout. The pace never flags as the narative builds up via skilful episodic unfoldment to the climactic confrontation at the height of the Masque and the score throughout is powerful and deeply evocative. 'The Masque of the Red Death' delivers an unforgettable experience and is truly worthy of being called a genuine classic of horror...

I remember watching this when I was a teenager on BBC2, late at night. It mesmerised me then as it does now. Having read Poe's short that inspired the film, Roger Corman might have embellished the tale, but he stuck to the true spirit of Poe's story in atmosphere and tone. Corman might be seen as the classic director of trash movie-making, but this film is genius, a luxurious sight for the eyes as the screen is awash with vivid colour and, perhaps, over-the-top acting (Vincent Price had rarely been better). The DVD is a welcome release, though surprisingly bare-boned, and the mono sound is perfunctory (though quite clear). The anamorphic picture is a tad soft, but pretty detailed for a film almost forty years old.

A wonderful jest indeed...

This capsule review refers to the Studio Canal Classic Horror Film Collection (region 2) edition only.

What a sight for the senses is this immaculate 2007 transfer of the original 1964 film. Nicolas Roegs' evocative cinematography and inventive use of colour has NEVER looked this good - and even on a 55 inch monitor!! The marvellous photographic compositions,bold costume design and impressive art direction make it hard to believe this film was made over 40 years ago. Even the numerous beautiful matte shots by Ray Caple & Bob Cuff look superb and grain free - again an unusual sight when it comes to process shots in older movies which tend to look muddy and over processed. The awful old pan & scan tv transfers (my only previous exposure to this film) have hopefully been sent to the bottom of the sea by now!

Excellent(mono)sound and picture perfect crisp 2.35:1 anamorphic imagery more than make up for the lack of any extras whatsoever - not even a trailer unfortunately. As good as this film has ever looked.

I agree with Peter Cook, this version of the film is stunning.It's not very often we get such masterpieces given this level of treatment. Yes, some extra's would have been nice but given the picture quality, it more than makes up for no extra's.

This is probably the best of the Poe, Corman, Price films and this really is the only way to see it.

This film is Roger Corman's best by a mile and, with the possible exception of 'The abominable Dr Phibes', is Vincent Price's best ,too. The plot centres around the escapades of the evil Prince Prospero (Price, of course),and his attempt to corrupt a beautiful and innocent girl (Jane Asher), taken captive in his castle full of debauched satanists, while the red death looms outside.Perhaps the most memorable scene is the eponymous masque,where retribution is finally meted out to the revellers, and in particular Alfredo's horrific death (played by Patrick Magee) ,which is actually taken from Poe's other classic tale, Hopfrog, but I'm not quibbling here, because this is a fabulous film, shot in vivid, sensual colours, superbly atmospheric, with an effective cast, and some great dialogue. There aren't many classier horror films around, so why not buy it?

This is just such a beautiful hammy performance from all the actors; led by the legend himself. In its own way it is just as typical a film of the 1960s as Butch Cassidy and 2001. (I am not saying it is as majestic as either of these by the way!)

The colours used are really vibrant and they almost seem too strong a contrast with the drab backgrounds outside the castle. Just another part of the excess in style that this film relishes in.

Its a simple film so you should simply enjoy it.

Visionary, yet expressionistic. Corman translates a story in pictures of Poe assisted by the great Vincent Price, and adorably eccentric, much more an icon of horror. Death has no face, dressed simply the primary colors, leaving no room for any anthropomorphism which dissipated the unease and fear. Loves the solitude of the woods and knows how to be tender, but at the same time with those who must condemn glacial. The scene of the ball, built in a simple, but effective, is one of the most intriguing sequences of the film, giving it the taste of bitter sweet carouse carefree. The tenth plague the country and will not spare the mad Prince Prospero (Vincent Price), which has long since sold his soul to the devil and is believed immune from death, forgetting that it has no master.

Visually appealing and trippy in its telling, The Masque of the Red Death is a very acquired taste. Directed by Roger Corman, the film stars Vincent Price as the diabolical Prince Prospero who holds fear over a plague infested peasantry while jollying it up in his castle. The screenplay by Charles Beaumont and R. Wright Campbell is based upon a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, while part of the film contains a story arc based on another Poe tale titled Hop-Frog. It's the 7th of 8 Corman film adaptations of Poe's works.

Sinister yet beautiful (Nicolas Roeg genius like on photography), "Red Death" has proved to be the most divisive of all the Corman/Poe adaptations. Choosing to forgo blood in favour of black magic dalliance and general diabolism, the film is arguably the most ambitious of all Corman's love affairs with Poe's literary works. With Price gleefully putting gravitas of meanness into Prospero, the film also greatly benefits from the intelligent input to the script from Beaumont (many Twilight Zone credits). This is, strangely, an intellectual type of horror film, offering up observations on the indiscrimination of death and proclaiming that cruelty is but merely a way of life. God, Satan and a battle of faith, are all luridly dealt with as the story reaches its intriguing and memorable closure. It's a very tough film to recommend with confidence, and certainly it's not a film one wishes to revisit too often (myself having viewed it only twice in 30 years!). However, the one thing that is a cast iron certainty is that it's unlike most horror film's from the 60s. It's also one of Price's best performances. Gone is the camp and pomposity that lingered on many of his other horror characterisations, in its place is pure menace of being. A devil dealer shuffling his pack for all his sadistic worth. You may feel afterwards that you must have eaten some weird mushrooms, or that that last glass of wine was one too many. You are however unlikely to forget The Masque of the Red Death in a hurry. 6-7/10

This was probably the best of the Corman/Poe films.They were inexpensive films to make,but this one was well written,great photography by Nicolas Roag and with a superb turn by Vincent Price as the evil Prospero. Highly recommended.

While this bears only slight resemblance to Edgar Allen Poe's story, it's a fine piece of B movie schlock, with Vincent Price in his sinister element. It's superb fun and well worth the money.