In 1975 a group of killers dressed in monk's robes enter Headstone Manor; when they leave the eighteen people inside have met a variety of unpleasant deaths. In the present (1983) a group of scientists head to the manor to investigate strange radiation readings. They don't believe in the supernatural but it isn't long before strange things start to occur; not to mention the arrival of a group of local Satanists and a bunch of homicidal doppelgangers.
I didn't expect too much from this; perhaps for that reason I ended up pleasantly surprised. It is far from being a classic but it manages to provide a few decent chuckles, some inventive if not that gory deaths and lots of references to other films that should entertain those playing 'spot the movie reference'. The story is pretty simple but that doesn't matter too much. The cast, which includes several familiar faces from the era does a solid enough job although it is obvious that none of them are taking things seriously. The various deaths are fun and include some I'd not seen before... the can opener decapitation standing out the most. They aren't very bloody though; given the film has a UK-18 certificate they could have gone further... an unrealistic excess of blood is better than an unrealistic lack of blood! The special effects are very low budget. Overall I quite enjoyed this so would recommend it; although it might not be as enjoyable for those who don't know the films being referenced... although I suspect most people should as most of them are still considered classics.
I didn't expect too much from this; perhaps for that reason I ended up pleasantly surprised. It is far from being a classic but it manages to provide a few decent chuckles, some inventive if not that gory deaths and lots of references to other films that should entertain those playing 'spot the movie reference'. The story is pretty simple but that doesn't matter too much. The cast, which includes several familiar faces from the era does a solid enough job although it is obvious that none of them are taking things seriously. The various deaths are fun and include some I'd not seen before... the can opener decapitation standing out the most. They aren't very bloody though; given the film has a UK-18 certificate they could have gone further... an unrealistic excess of blood is better than an unrealistic lack of blood! The special effects are very low budget. Overall I quite enjoyed this so would recommend it; although it might not be as enjoyable for those who don't know the films being referenced... although I suspect most people should as most of them are still considered classics.