Director: Vernon Sewell
Screenplay: Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln
Starring: Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Mark Eden, Barbara Steele, Michael Gough, Rupert Davies, Virginia Wetherell
Country: United Kingdom
Running Time: 87 min
Year: 1968
BBFC Certificate: 15
The 88 Films Tigon Collection has had a stellar start since launching in March 2024, with top tier releases of Witchfinder General, The Blood on Satan’s Claw, The Sorcerers and more. These lavish editions are packed to the brim with insightful extras features, gorgeous packaging and top class audio and visual presentations.
One of the best parts of the collection is seeing the different styles of film that Tigon released, from the folk horror of Witchfinder and Satan’s Claw to the revisionist Western Hannie Caulder. Curse of the Crimson Altar shows a different style again; that of the old school horror. Whereas Witchfinder and Satan’s Claw were pushing the envelope in terms of content and themes, Crimson Altar feels more like a throwback picture, with little in the way of sex, gore or violence, despite some very 60s elements like a swinging party and neon colours.
The classic feel is helped by the inclusion of actors such as Boris Karloff, star of the 1930s Universal Classics like Frankenstein and The Mummy; Christopher Lee, one of Hammer Horror’s biggest names, and Michael Gough, who popped in a number of classic British horrors, including Hammer’s Dracula with Lee and Horrors of the Black Museum. Also special mention to another British horror great in Barbara Steele, who appears in the occasional scene throughout.
Curse of the Crimson Altar is very loosely based on HP Lovecraft’s 1930s short story The Dreams in the Witch House, and follows Robert Manning (Mark Eden), who is trying to locate his brother, last known to have visited a remote house called Craxted Lodge in their family’s ancestral town of Greymarsh.
Following the opening titles, the colour turns green for a ceremony, in which Lavinia Morley (Barbara Steele) oversees the sacrifice of a woman, before we’re whisked to a groovy party as Manning arrives at Craxted Lodge in an effort to find his missing brother. Here we’re introduced to the house’s owner Morley (Christopher Lee), Morley’s niece Eve (Virginia Wetherell) and butler Elder (Michael Gough). We discover that Eve’s ancestor is Lavinia, whom we saw in the pop colour post-opening titles sequence, and also encounter an occult expert called Professor John Marsh (Boris Karloff), who warns of a witchcraft cult; one which may still be active. From the early shenanigans, we soon realise it is still active.
Although there’s more of an older school feel to the film, there are some contemporary elements; those aforementioned groovy party sequences, and some ‘wink wink, nod nod’ lines, like when Eve suggests the house feels like it’s from an old horror film, and Manning says we can expect Boris Karloff to appear. His character’s first appearance is not too much later. There’s a very creepy and atmospheric graveyard, and secret passageways in the house which add to the intrigue. These elements help with the spooky feel and air of mystery that the film exudes.
The plot plays out with Manning trying to track down his brother whilst a romance blossoms between Manning and Eve, and this is all punctuated by the occasional weird nightmare. And these nightmare sequences are the ones where the film really stands out. Manning dreams of a witch, whom we see is Lavinia, who oversees ceremonies at the titular crimson altar: a red altar with a fire on top. These nightmares are striking sequences, shots in bright single or dual colours; they’re unlike anything else in the film, outside of the opening sequence, and are creepy and eerie. The score is also suitably ominous.
Curse of the Crimson Altar is an entertaining supernatural mystery that has a deliberate pace that creates an air of atmosphere. It’s very tame compared to other Tigon efforts, but builds to a memorable finale, and contains some striking and colourful dream sequences. Those watching for Lee, Karloff or Steele will find plenty to enjoy in their performances, though all three are glorified cameos, particularly Karloff, who was frail at the time, and wheelchair-bound in the film. He would sadly pass away two months after its UK release.
Film: 
Curse of the Crimson Altar is released on 2nd September 2024 by 88 Films as part of their Tigon Collection. The transfer is excellent, showcasing the bright colour scheme of the nightmare sequences and featuring fine detail. The audio is also great.
Limited edition contents:
- Limited edition reverse-board gloss o-card
- Booklet Notes by Andrew Graves
Special features:
- High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation in original 1.66:1 aspect ratio
- Original English mono
- Optional English SDH
- Audio commentary by film critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan
- On the Cutting Room Floor – Howard Lanning on editing Tigon Films
- The Altar of Sacrifice – Sean Hogan on H.P. Lovecraft & Curse of the Crimson Altar
- Creating the Curse of the Crimson Altar – Making Of
- Original trailer
- Crimson Cult trailer
- Stills gallery
- Reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by Sean Longmore & original US “The Crimson Cult” poster
In their commentary for The Sorcerers, Sean Hogan and Kim Newman referenced that Curse of the Crimson Altar was another Tigon film they’d recorded a commentary for, and it’s great to finally hear it. They open with the trippy opening to the film, and how the filmmakers left in elements that perhaps don’t entirely work. They look at the youth and hip aspects of the movie and how they are similar to other films like Hammer’s Dracula A.D. 1972, share how Lee was apparently in a lot of pain during the film, and look at their first viewings of the film, as well as the different versions – the tamer US cut and an apparent stronger export cut. They also point out props and other elements from other films – including a prop from Witchfinder General. As always, they pack so much information in about the film, the plot, the actors, the crew, the elements they enjoyed and which they don’t feel work so well. Their commentaries are always standout extras for me, and this is the case here too. It’s a phenomenal track and the standout extra of the package.
On the Cutting Room Floor – Howard Lanning on Editing Tigon Films runs for 18 minutes. Manning shares a number of informative memories of the editing of the film, particularly the opening sequence, and speaks highly of working with Karloff. He shares how Karloff was not well at all at the time of shooting the film, and how he felt that the various night shoots didn’t help Karloff’s health. Manning also shares his thoughts on The Body Stealers, another Tigon release, which he doesn’t speak very highly of. You can read my thoughts on the film, and 88’s release, in my review for this very website.
The Altar of Sacrifice – Sean Hogan on H.P. Lovecraft & Curse of the Crimson Altar is a wonderful 20 minute piece with co-commentator Hogan, who provides a great overview of author Lovecraft and the film. The movie is very loosely based on Lovecraft’s The Dreams in the Witch House and Hogan shares that it was so loosely based that the author doesn’t get a credit. Hogan shares an overview of the original story and what makes it interesting. He also looks at the other adaptations of the story, including Stuart Gordon’s relatively faithful version for the Masters of Horror TV series. It’s a fascinating and fantastic piece.
Creating the Curse of the Crimson Altar – Making Of runs for 35 minutes and features archival interviews with actors Mark Eden and, Virginia Wetherell, and editor Lanning pops up again, as do other members of the crew. There are some neat reflections and anecdotes, particularly about Boris Karloff in an enthralling piece.
The original trailer runs for just over two minutes under the UK title of Curse of the Crimson Altar.
A two minute trailer for The Crimson Cult is also included. This was the title for the US release of the film, which came out in 1970, over a year after the UK release, and plays up this being Karloff’s final role. Crimson Altar was the final film to be released during Karloff’s lifetime (in the UK at least) with four films he shot in Mexico being released posthumously, as well as The Crimson Cult in the US.
The stills gallery contains 26 stills, mostly film posters, lobby cards and a couple of other home video editions.
I wasn’t provided with the booklet to review.
Curse of the Crimson Altar is an atmospheric, entertaining and visually stylish slice of British cinema, which brings together three horror greats in Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee and Barbara Steele. It’s incredibly well served on a fantastic limited edition Blu-ray from 88 Films, as part of their Tigon Collection. The transfer and audio are both excellent, and the package packs in over 75 minutes of informative and insightful interviews, plus a stellar commentary. Highly recommended.
Disc/package:
Leave a Reply