The Screaming Skull (1958) – Film Review

Director: Alex Nicol
Cast: Peggy Webber, John Hudson, Russ Conway
Certificate: PG

By Sarah Morgan

The year 1958 was a great one for film-lovers. Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller Vertigo was released, as were Oscar-winning musical Gigi, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, South Pacific and The Vikings. Carry On Sergeant – the first in the franchise – was a hit at the British box office, as was Hammer’s now iconic take on Dracula.

Sadly, you’re unlikely to see The Screaming Skull popping up on many ‘best of’ lists regarding that year. However, in the horror genre at least, it’s rather impressive. Its director, Alex Nicol, would probably never have believed that, almost 70 years later, it would have been restored and released on Blu-ray for a whole new generation to enjoy.

“Deceased”

Loosely based on a short story by Francis Marion Crawford, but also owing a little to Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca and Patrick Hamilton’s play Gaslight, it begins with a newlywed couple, Eric (John Hudson) and the independently wealthy Jenni (Peggy Webster), arriving at the home he inherited from his deceased first wife Marion.

They appear to be blissfully in love and plan to make a fresh start at the property. Unfortunately, a series of spooky events take place involving a disembodied skull begin to take place, threatening to send the rather fragile Jenni out of her mind. But are these terrifying stunts the result of something supernatural, or is somebody far more corporeal behind them – and if so, who?

Nicol himself, an actor who worked on numerous TV shows and films (including a number for Hammer, such as the brilliant noir The House Across the Lake), plays the No 1 suspect, a gardener with learning difficulties who was devoted to Marion. But it would be far too easy to point the finger at him, wouldn’t it…?

“Wonderfully chilling”

Although clearly made on a shoestring, there is genuine tension here and some wonderfully chilling scenes, including one close to the end that horror novelist Stephen Laws, during his introduction to the film, claims causes the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. It is rather unnerving, I must admit.

Special features include a video essay, and there’s a booklet featuring new articles about the film to enjoy too.

On the film’s original release, its backers promised to pay for the burial of anyone who died of fright when watching it. Chances are you won’t need it, but you may be rather surprised by the movie’s quality and imagery nevertheless, proving you don’t need a major Hollywood studio behind you to create a classic that stands the test of time.

Sarah Morgan( Writer )

Sarah Morgan studied film journalism at post-graduate level with the BFI and has been writing about TV and film for PA Media’s newspaper, magazine and new media customers since 1996. She’s also written for a wide range of other publications, both online and in print, including the book Offbeat and Intermission magazine, and is a regular contributor to the Talking Pictures TV podcast. When she isn’t watching movies, she’s collecting and reading vintage crime and horror paperback books or, for her sins, watching her beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

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