Horror Hospital (1973)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Antony Balch

Writers:

Antony Balch (screenplay) and
Alan Watson (screenplay)

Release Date:

April 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

The Operation is a Success ... When the Patient Dies

Plot:

Jason, a member of a 1960's pop group, decides he needs a break at a country retreat. On the train he meets Judy...

Plot Keywords:

Mind Control | Blood | Decapitation | Fire | Wheelchair

Cast

Michael Gough	...	Dr. Christian Storm
Robin Askwith	...	Jason Jones
Vanessa Shaw	...	Judy Peters
Ellen Pollock	...	Aunt Harris
Dennis Price	...	Mr. Pollack
Skip Martin	...	Frederick
Kurt Christian	...	Abraham
Barbara Wendy	...	Millie
Kenneth Benda	...	Carter
Martin Grace	...	Bike Boy
Colin Skeaping	...	Bike Boy
George Herbert	...	Laboratory Assistant
James Boris IV	...	'Mystic' Rock Group (as James IV Boris)
Allan 'The River' Hudson	...	'Mystic' Rock Group (as Allan {The River} Hudson)
Simon Lust	...	'Mystic' Rock Group

Also Known As:

Computer Killers (USA)
Doctor Bloodbath (video title)

Runtime:

85 min | 100 min (uncut)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | Italy:VM18 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:R | UK:18 | USA:R | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating) | Norway:(Banned) (1974-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Knebworth House, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Noteworthy Films

Trivia:

The films Italian title "Diario proibito di un collegio femminile" translates to "Forbidden diary of a girls' boarding school".

Soundtrack:

Mark of Death

They Don't Make 'Em Like This Anymore!

This is another film I remember from childhood, from the days of regular TV (free, broadcast, and adjust the "rabbit ears" for reception), as a crappy but atmospheric British monster picture.

Now, not only on cable, but on a premium service, I came across it again - and in letterbox format no less. Well, the film is still basically very flawed, but it really shows how much better crafted films once were.

While it remains a simplistic lots of onscreen gore effort, this picture is so much more beautiful to look at than many produced today. The cinematography is consistently superior, and well supported by excellent lighting and generally well scored music. And even though the special effects don't match up to todays films they retain some value in that they have more visual "weight" than some of the CGI crap routinely inserted in modern movies.

Unfortunately the wacky plot and mediocre (well, sometimes bad) acting show through in the end. It may be that the director was trying for a lot of humor at points but it only worked for me towards the end of the film when one of those fleeing the burning building stops for a snack in the kitchen.

As for the beheading car mentioned in another review: that particular element is worthy of Austin Powers' "Dr. Evil." I can see the good doctor in this movie also calling out "All I'm asking for is for some frickin' sharks with lasers on their heads."

If you've seen this before on broadcast TV, it may be worth a second look on video or DVD for the cinematography and for the sexual elements which explain the plot a little more. In the TV version I saw as a kid, the sexual theme was not at all evident, and so, the plot seemed even more outlandish than it actually is.

Still, if you happen by this big-time cable it may catch your interest, but all the way along you'll wonder why any premium channel could have chosen this film from their catalog. There are quite simply so many more old British shockers which are better than Horror Hospital."

-SCG