The Skull

Strangely enough this is not a Hammer film though you would be forgiven for mistaking it as such. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee star in this adaptation of a Robert Bloch short story concerning a cursed skull. Oh, I suppose it might have a little something to do with said skull having been once on the shoulders of the Marquis de Sade! Other Hammer regulars Michael Gough, Nigel Green and Patrick Wymark provide fine support but the real treat is in the direction. Saddled with a low budget the recently deceased Freddie Francis works his magic to tease a good little creeper out of the material at hand. Sure, some wires are to been seen here and there but this is more than made up for by the atmosphere Francis creates. If nothing else there is a fine scene where Lee and Cushing discuss the esoteric over a friendly game of billiards and the film is well worth seeing for the sake of watching these old friends together.