The City of the Dead(1960).A young coed (Nan Barlow) uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in New England. Her professor recommends that she spend her time in a small village called Whitewood. He originally cam from that village so he also recommends she stay at the "Raven's Inn," run by a Mrs. Newlis. She gets to the village and notices some weird happenings, but things begin to happen in earnest when she finds herself "marked" for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches. It seems that the innkeeper is actually the undead spirit of Elizabeth Selwyn, and the "guests" at the inn are the other witches who have come to celebrate the sacrifice on Candalmas Eve. As one of them said when Nan walked away, "HE will be PLEASED." Written byJohn A Kostecki <jak@wbst207v.xerox.com>... Synopsis The City of the Dead(1960)
Movie Title: The City of the Dead(1960)
Run Time: 78 min
Rating: 6.8 / 10
Genres: Horror |Thriller
Release Date: 12 September 1961 (USA)
Director: John Llewellyn Moxey
Writer: George Baxt ,Milton Subotsky... and other credits
Actor: Patricia Jessel,Dennis Lotis,Christopher Lee
The City of the Dead is an enjoyable romp through witchcraft and Satanism. Whilst ripe with clichés, they enhance the movie goers pleasure rather then deride from the film itself. You'll thrill at the fantastic sets, marvel as fog threatens to blanket the entire screen, smirk as sinister characters retreat sneak on screen the retreat from whence they came! the movie achieves any effective balance between camp and genuine horror. You'll probably never be chilled to the bone but will be impressed with the films earnest and effective atmosphere. Patricia Jessel steels the show in her dual role of Elizabeth Selwyn/Mrs. Newlis and simply marvelous as the melovant matriarch how is divinely OTT. Christopher Lee is suave and sinister as always though appears in a minor but vital role. All in all a worthwhile cinema going experience.
