Comments on: Theater of Blood

by: cinebeats

Fri, 04 May 2007 17:58:39 +0100

The movie is really a horror comedy instead of a straight up horror film so I think the director’s “tongue in cheek” style works well for it.

I do agree that considering the movie is played for laughs, the ending does seem rather bleak. Like yourself, I think the movie could have been better if Edward Lionheart somehow survived in the end, but since he defeated death once before that might have turned out a little silly. I would have really liked it more if Diana’s character survived and she starred in another film later taking revenge for her father’s death.

Either way, I personally think it’s a very clever film and really one of the best horror comedies made in the seventies.

by: dom

Wed, 02 May 2007 19:22:19 +0100

You know, Theatre Of Blood is a formative film for many Brit film fans as it was a staple “late night horror film” over here & I grew up with it & loved it, but I don’t know…the last time I saw it I was disappointed by it, it seemed really contrived & seemed to lack something. Maybe it’s the cast…all those Brit stalwarts in one place, or that I already know that Diana Rigg is hiding behind that disguise (hard to believe it’s her fave film as Barry says, as she’s disguised as a man, but she really didn’t get much film work anyway & I read in a recent interview with her that she resents not working more in film) or the obvious comparison with the Phibes films, I’m not sure…I think maybe the director Douglas Hickox wasn’t a “horror” director & he shot it a little too “tongue in cheek” for my liking.

I can understand why Vinny would’ve relished the opportunity to embrace the “immortal bard” in the way he did, but for some reason this film has left me cold the last time I watched it. The ending is pretty weak & rather depressing. Hickox uses that “fisheye” lens alot ( he uses it in the film “Sitting Target” very well during a prison escape) & there’s something about it that distances the viewer a little too much, too stylised I think. I would’ve prefered Vinny’s character to have survived (like Phibes) & threatened revenge from beyond the grave! There is something a little too “realistic” about the film that depresses me.

by: Andrew Bemis

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 22:46:39 +0100

Wonderful article! I haven’t seen Theater of Blood in fifteen years, but I remember it fondly. Now, I think I’ll have to check it out again!

by: cinebeats

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:25:07 +0100

James - Glad you enjoyed the film as well. I didn’t even think about the Saw comparisons until you mentioned them, but I can see what yo’ure saying. Vincent is terrific in Theater of Blood!

Jeremy - Thanks so much for nice comments about my writing! Your encourgement is much appreciated. Diana is fabulous so it’s easy to understand why you’d have her on the brain. I look forward to reading your review of The Hospital! It’s shame that the Theater of Blood DVD is so bare bones. I’ve also read that MGM is ending their “Midnight Movie” series so the DVD will probably go out of print soon which is a shame.

Neil - Thanks so much Neil! You write well and I’m sure you would have written a great piece on Theater of Blood yourself if you had decided to.

Barry - Thanks so much for sharing all your information about Diana! I didn’t know that her daughter had been in a stage version of the film and that is exciting news. Diana is really lovely and a fantastic actress so it’s nice to know that there are groups like your “Ministry of Riggism” out there so fans can get together and discuss her and her work.

by: Barry

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:29:41 +0100

Thanks for this appraisal of one of my favourite films - ‘Theatre of Blood’. Apparently it is is Diana Rigg’s favourite film in her repertoire.
I have to agree that ‘Joe Public’ wanted to see more of her as Emma Peel - I was guilty of this too at the time but, I was only 12 when Emma left with Peter Peel but, her stage work never suffered because of ‘The Avengers’ - in fact, at the same time as she was filming ‘The Avengers’ during the day she would drive north to Stratford-upon-Avon to appear in ‘Twelfth Night’.
I have never heard her say that she wanted to do more Shakespearian roles than she actually did. But, she did say that she left the Royal Shakespeare Company because she knew she couldn’t get any further than she had already and wanted to explore other avenues, which indeed she did consciuosly. Unfortunately, as she has said very recently in The Guardian her biggest disappointment is her lack of a prestigious film career.
But, lovely critique of ‘Theatre of Blood’ which of course her daughter, Rachael Stirling starred in on stage in 2004 at the Royal National Theatre in London. She played her Mother’s part which was renamed to Miranda and the fabulous Jim Broadbent played Edward Lionheart.

by: Neil

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:19:59 +0100

Great choice! I wish I’d chosen it.

Well, no, I don’t, because I wouldn’t have done nearly as good a job writing about it.

by: Jeremy

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 01:57:44 +0100

Wow Kimberly,
We must both have Diana Rigg on the brain. After writing my tribute to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service on Friday I had a Diana Rigg weekend with a mini Avengers marathon as well as re-watching a couple of her films. Theater of Blood is a favorite and it crossed my mind to write on it but I went with The Hospital instead which I just posted.
I love your writing and alwyas admire the films you choose. Price and Diana are just great in this film and it’s still one of the most inventive horror movies you can find.
I wish the dvd had some extra features but, like the bare bones Hospital, I am just glad it is available.
Price is an actor I admire very much, here is a guy who could go from Laura to the Corman films, from The Brady Buch to The Mod Squad and always bring a sense of finesse and class to every role.
Cheers for thinking to include this with the Shakespeare blog-a-thon. I missed out but really enjoyed your choice.

by: James

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 23:26:16 +0100

I didn’t know anyone else had seen this movie, much less liked it in the way you describe. I found it on some random movie channel and thought it was a great way to spend two hours. Vincent Price is great in the film and deserves to be recognized for this performance. And those death scenes were the most elaborate ones I have seen outside of “Saw”