Il Mostro dell'Opera

The Vampire of the Opera
Il Vampiro dell'Opera / L'Orgie des Vampires

Italy 1964
produced by
Ferdinando Anselmetti for Nord industrial Film
directed by Renato Polselli
starring Marco Mariani, John McDouglas (= Giuseppe Addobbati), Barbara Howard, Vittoria Prada, Alberto Archetti, Carla Cavalli, Boris Notarenko (= Aldo Nicodemi), Jody Excell, Milena Vukotic, Gaby Black, George Arms, Romy von Simon, Erich Schonbrunner, Christine Martin, Maureen Verrich, Olga Jala, Renato Montalbano, Fidel González, Walter Brandi
story by Renato Polselli, Ernesto Gastaldi, screenplay by Ernesto Gastaldi, Giuseppe Pellegrini, Renato Polselli, music by Aldo Piga, choreography by Gianna Ciampaglia, Marisa Coampaglia

review by
Mike Haberfelner

Choreographer Sandro (Marco Mariani) takes his new production, a big dancing revue, to a theatre that has been closed for years for rehearsals, and that's quite a bit on the creepy side, something that's only emphasized on by caretaker Achille (Alberto Achetti), who utters warning after warning. Not that Sandro would listen to him though, since he thinks the theatre is just perfect. Sure, his dancers freak out about random stuff, but then they are a nervous bunch and a bit on the edge. Fact is, at least at first ther4e's no real threat to anyone of the ensemble.

All of this changes of course when Stefano (John McDouglas) arrives, a handsome but creepy looking guy who claims he has lived in the theatre for centuries, and who thinks Sandro's leading lady Giulia (Barbara Howard) is the reincarnation of his long-lost love Laura. Eventually, he kidnaps Laura, leads her to his secret realm and keeps the others from following by telepathically forcing them to dance for hours without end. In his secret realm, Stefano reveals himself to be a vampire ...

Eventually, Sandro's troupe is freed from their dancing duties, and since they find themselves locked into their theatre, they figure the only way to save themselves is to try and track down Stefano and save Laura in the process. After much to and fro they figure Stefano's realm must be hidden behind a portrait of his, which they burn forcing him out into the open, then they attack him with torches and burn him to death.

Now this is a mostly overlooked film that has some genuinely eerie moments, moments of almost surreal horror, and all of this is only emphasized by some great sets and such.

That said though, the film is still far from being a masterpiece or a forgotten genre classic, because while it boasts its fair share of eerie moments, it lacks a good story, is less than successful in creating tension and suspense, and is totally lacking in character development, not at all helped by an at best mediocre cast.

It's still well worth a look, just don't expect too much ...

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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