The Terror│Film Masters
Courtesy of Film Masters
by CHAD KENNERK
With a desire to use the spectacular sets of American International Pictures’ (AIP) The Raven before they were razed, producer/director Roger Corman paid screenwriter Leo Gordon to brainstorm a rough outline and write a script which could be shot in two days. Corman managed to keep Boris Karloff around after The Raven wrapped in order to complete Karloff’s scenes for the new film. Some nine months and five directors later, Corman cut the picture together, shooting additional exposition scenes to give the fractured story a through line.
The result? The Terror is quite possibly the finest example of a movie made in reverse. It also stands as another example of how Corman managed to make movies from practically nothing. Although it doesn’t have quite the same gloss, the film bears a striking resemblance to Corman’s Poe Cycle, with some enthusiasts going so far as to include it in the series’ roster. Having developed a formula for the Poe films, Corman once said his ambition with The Terror was to “Out-Poe Poe himself,” …and he nearly does.
The Terror includes all of the classic elements from the Poe cycle; a haunted castle, a family secret, a vengeful curse, a reanimated corpse, possession and fused personalities–all in glorious color. After an unexpected encounter with a mysterious young woman, an 18th century French Lieutenant in Napoleon's army (a young Jack Nicholson) soon finds himself at the castle of Baron Von Leppe (Boris Karloff), where he notices a painting of the Baron's late wife that looks identical to his vanishing woman. Determined to unravel the castle's mystery, he soon discovers that the Baron harbors more than one secret and skeleton in the closet.
Image courtesy of Film Masters
Celebrating the film’s 60th anniversary, Film Masters presents a special edition, two-disc collector’s set on blu-ray. Corman classics The Terror and bonus film The Little Shop of Horrors are presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratios on region free discs with DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s audio. C. Courtney Joyner and Dr. Steve Haberman provide an insightful commentary track for The Terror, which looks terrific in a new HD restoration from 35mm archival elements. Additional special features include the continuation of Ballyhoo Motion Pictures’ documentary Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story (part one appeared on the special edition Beast from Haunted Cave blu-ray). There’s also a featurette by Howard S. Berger and Kevin Marr titled Ghosts in the Machine: Art & Artifice in Roger Corman’s Celluloid Castle, along with two companion essays by C. Courtney Joyner and Mark McGee in the accompanying booklet.
The Terror is a real Frankenstein of a film and better than it has any right to be. From the primary colors to the impressive sets, it’s an effort that stands as a great representation of the gothic horror films AIP became known for. It does lack some of the cohesiveness and polish of the Vincent Price Poe films, especially in some of the second unit footage, which at times is flat and out of focus. Yet there are some amazing shots throughout, including a moment where a butterfly flies through frame on the beach as Sandra Knight’s character stalks toward the camera.
Film Masters new restoration of The Terror is nothing short of cryptacular. Phil Hopkins, the president of Film Masters shared, “The Terror has languished in the public domain for decades. We’re delighted to have put together a celebratory and thought-provoking version with an award-winning team of contributors. Fans of the film will appreciate the editorial bonus features, which take a much-needed deep dive into this infamous Corman classic.”
Included in the two disc special edition set is an HD version of the low budget schlockfest The Little Shop of Horrors, which inspired the beloved Off-Broadway musical that was so brilliantly brought to film in 1986 by director Frank Oz. The musical’s source material has never looked better in a newly restored HD version. The insane story of Seymour (Jonathan Haze), a lonely florist, and his hungry plant Audrey lives on. Author Justin Humphreys and star Jonathan Haze provide the commentary.
The Terror releases on blu-ray 12 December from Film Masters.
Order now at: www.filmmasters.com/theterror
FILM MASTERS is a consortium of historians and enthusiasts who seek to celebrate the preservation and restoration of films. As archivists, Film Masters is committed to storing film elements for future generations and reviving films that have been sitting dormant for decades. By scanning in 2K and 4K, they give these lesser-known films the red-carpet treatment they deserve. Leveraging modern means of distribution to release forgotten films back into the world, Film Masters also produces original bonus materials—including feature-length documentaries, audio commentaries and historic articles—to contextualise and celebrate these works of art as they were meant to be.
