UNHOLY TERROR (1971)
aka Crucible of Terror
Article 2466 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing Date: 1-2-2008
Posting Date: 5-13-2008
Directed by Ted Hooker
Featuring Mike Raven, Mary Maude, James Bolam
Country: UK

The organizer of an art show is offered a large sum of money for a sculpture that was stolen from a reclusive artist. In order to make ends meet, he decides to visit the artist in question, who was not aware of the theft and sale of his piece. The manager does not know that the artist has a secret; he makes the sculptures from the dead bodies of his models.

To its credit, the movie has a twist ending that attempts to alleviate somewhat the fact that you’re watching just another variation on the psycho artist theme; if you’ve seen movies like A BUCKET OF BLOOD, TRACK OF THE VAMPIRE, PLAYGIRL KILLER, COLOR ME BLOOD RED, etc., you know the genre. Still, when you come right down to it, the twist ending isn’t that good, and for the rest of the movie – well, let’s just say that with the uninspired acting, limp direction, poor editing and leaden pace you’ll encounter with this one, you’re better off watching dust settle on the screen of your TV set. Some oddball characters and Mike Raven’s sonorous voice try to enliven the proceedings, and it’s not near enough. Ultimately, it’s one of those movies that is watched only to be forgotten. I bet you when I post this several months from this writing, I won’t remember a thing about it.

P.S. It is now several months since I first wrote this, and it’s true; I don’t remember a thing about this movie.