Horror Hospital (1973)

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

A good slice of gory and goofy horror nonsense.

Jason (Robin Askwith) is in need of some R & R, and, through a company dubbed "Hairy Holidays", is sent to a country manor where much more ghoulish happenings occur. There's a hapless dwarf (a likable and funny Skip Martin), henchmen clad like motorcyclists, and a wheelchair-bound madman named Storm (the wonderful Michael Gough) who controls the minds of his victims. Jason determines to escape and prevent the intended fate of his cute and perky love interest Judy (the winsome Vanessa Shaw).

This has to be seen to be believed. It's a campy, ridiculous, and gleefully sadistic trashy flick...not necessarily good in any way, but entertaining to watch. It's sure not going for any amount of credibility (wouldn't most people leave the moment they saw a bloody bed?) or any sort of real atmosphere or scares. No, it's the kind of thing that I have fun with, and laugh at, even if it's light on real "horror". Even a "big" revelation concerning the bad doctor comes as no surprise.

It dives into the blissfully bloody mayhem right off the bat. Some folks might get a real gas out of the lethal decapitating limousine. Co-writer and director Antony Balch does serve up the evil escapades of his movie with a certain relish, and gives us a fairly decent finish to enjoy.

Any movie that offers a deliciously hammy Gough chewing up the scenery is worth checking out, and he doesn't disappoint. There's also an amusing special appearance by Dennis Price as the sleazy Pollack.

If you just want to have a good time with a horror flick that won't require you to think very hard, you might want to give this one a try.

7/10