Truly Dreadful Film

Some things I liked some I did not.

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

This is another title which is considered as horror but whose ties to the genre are tenuous at best; intriguingly described by the late eminent movie critic Leslie Halliwell as "a Grand Guignol version of THE SERVANT{1963}" and starring everybody's favorite brooding Brit, Oliver Reed, I was looking forward to it but the end result was a disappointment; the "satanic" climax remarked upon by Halliwell in his review of that Joseph Losey film is displayed quite literally here!Derek Jacobi is a fey (despite being married to the stunning Fiona Lewis and having the no-less gorgeous Anna Gael for a mistress) English lord who still parades in the height of aristocratic fashion around his estate. Reed (stiffly made-up and saddled with a comical, almost unintelligible accent that is even worse than the notorious one adopted by Marlon Brando for MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY {1962}!) is his Macchiavellian butler who oversees and tends to the property "as if it were his own" – like in THE SERVANT itself, we all know where this is heading, with Reed effectively replacing Jacobi as the master of the house.Having contrived to bear two children, Jacobi has a nanny looking after them but, the charges being spoilt rotten like himself (not to mention being intimidated by Reed's presence), they invariably quit their job (ostensibly after having externalized their frustration upon the kids). Though not especially pretty, the new girl to fill this post is still seduced by the butler and, soon, she begins to have weird dreams of the mansion being engaged in covert diabolical rituals (which is the film's only claim to genre trappings, culminating in the all-stops-out finale) presided over by a red-clad Reed clasping a dagger and flanked by a naked Lewis and Gael under their see-through silk dresses! Anyway, Jacobi indulges in a hedonistic lifestyle, the massive halls filled with his similarly jaded peers…but, unbeknownst to him, the servants – naturally, at the instigation of Reed – carry on with their own 'wild party' downstairs! The ending, then, sees Jacobi dead and the nanny leaving the premises in disgust, with Reed's manipulation now complete (Lewis herself having willingly joined his side). The estate on which this was filmed (by distinguished cinematographer Harry Waxman) is owned by Alexander Thynne who not only bears the title Marquis Of Bath but actually wrote the novel, "The Carry-Cot", which inspired BLUE BLOOD to begin with and is also Gael's husband in real-life! As for writer-director Sinclair, his most notable credit was the strongly-cast Dylan Thomas adaptation UNDER MILK WOOD (1972) and his only other film after this one was an obscure secret agent spoof with the desperate-sounding title of TUXEDO WARRIOR (1982)!!

This one really BOMBED! After watching most of Reed's films and his horror films being my most favorite I decided to watch this flop. What a big disappointment this was. Reed stars as a snobbish butler with an accent that changes like a bad ventriloquist dummy that is supposed to be the leader of a Satanic cult gathered in the mansion of it's rich owner with two bratty kids that have to be looked after by a strange and dumb maid because his wife is to busy singing and he's to busy sleeping with his girlfriend on the side and meanwhile the butler sends strange images to the maid and owner of Reed in the worst makeup job I have ever seen but what makes him look worse is the room in which he practices his worship is all red and you can barely see him anyway. This movie isn't at all Satanic in any way except for the few glimpses of Reed tormenting people and he gets blamed for all the misuse of the children and the things that go on with the house. This movie is boring from beginning to end, very slow dialogue and false advertisement of the point of the title. This movie isn't even a horror movie, it's a boring drama! Avoid it! Watch "Burnt Offerings" and "The Brood" thats Reeds strangest and his best in horror.

Ollie reed & co take the mickey in the luxurious home of the Marquis of Bath (who, himself briefly appears in the party scene). Derek Jacobi makes the best of a poor script, probably written on the back of a beer-mat. The film is soooooooo unintentionaly hilarious, it beggars belief! The film is full of musical tangents, poorly dubbed kids, satanic-undertones and a truly winning performance by the late, great Oliver of Reedshire. If it appears on T.V (it'll never appear on DVD, that's for sure) tape it, watch it, then watch it again. Best line (By Derek Jacobi): "ohhhhh, youuuuuuuuu stuuuuuuuupid biiiiitch".

Despite the presence of the late, great Oliver Reed, this is a slow moving Pinteresque drama which fails to grab the attention.Derek Jacobi is okay as the wimpy lord of the manor who finds his servants are actually devil worshippers - or something. The plot is obviously inspired by a mix of Upstairs Downstairs and Rosemary's Baby and there's the odd, bizarre flash frame to keep you interested.Worth a look only for the stunning Fiona Lewis who has rarely been more gorgeous. Watch it for her brief scenes alone and it will be a worthwhile experience.