NIGHT OF THE SKULL

The skull-faced killer 

NIGHT OF THE SKULL (aka Le noche de los asesinos/Night of the Killers/1974). Director: Jesus Franco (Jess Franco).

On a dark and stormy night in 19th century Louisiana, Lord Archibald Marian (Angel Menendez), originally from England, is buried alive by an assailant wearing a skull mask. Marian's wife, the vicious Cecelia (Maribel Hildago), is next, chained to rocks as the tide comes in. As the murders continue, all of them seemingly centering on the will and who will gain from it, there are numerous suspects: the weird servants, Rufus (Luis Barboo) and the ill-tempered Deborah (Yelena Samarina of House of a 1000 Dolls); Marian's two bastards, Rita (Lina Romay) and Alfred (Antonio Mayans); Baron Tobias (William Berger) and his wife Marta ((Evelyne Scott); Albert Pagan (Dan van Husen) and his wife. Inspector Bore (Vincente Roca) has just begun investigating when Major Oliver Brooks (Alberto Dalbes) from Scotland Yard arrives to take charge of the baffling case. 

getting ready to read the will

This is one of the prolific director Jess Franco's better movies, which, sadly, isn't saying much. The shame of it is that the film has atmosphere and a very good plot with an excellent twist, but the direction is as uninspired as ever.  Yet the picture isn't boring and has many intriguing aspects to it. Despite the credits, the movie has absolutely nothing to do with Edgar Allan Poe and is not based on any of his writings, but apparently was ripped off from an Edgar Wallace novel. Made in Spain.

Verdict: A pretty good mystery story that would have been much better with someone other than Jess Franco at the helm. **1/2.