The Skull poster

1965·83 min·Released

The Skull

“When the Skull strikes you'll scream!”

Horror
Thriller

Esoterica collector Dr Maitland buys an unusual skull from his ordinary source; the artifact is what remains of the Marquis De Sade. Much too soon, Maitland discovers that the skull is turning him into a frenzied killer.

6.1(114 votes)

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Videos

IL TESCHIO MALEDETTO (1965) Con Peter Cushing - Trailer Originale

Cast & Crew

Peter Cushing

Peter Cushing

Dr. Christopher Maitland

Christopher Lee

Christopher Lee

Sir Matthew Phillips

Patrick Wymark

Patrick Wymark

Anthony Marco

Jill Bennett

Jill Bennett

Jane Maitland

Peter Woodthorpe

Peter Woodthorpe

Bert Travers, Marco's Landlord

Nigel Green

Nigel Green

Inspector Wilson

April Olrich

April Olrich

French Girl

George Coulouris

George Coulouris

Dr. Londe

Maurice Good

Maurice Good

Pierre, Phrenologist

Patrick Magee

Patrick Magee

Police Surgeon

Frank Forsyth

Frank Forsyth

Judge

Michael Gough

Michael Gough

Auctioneer

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Wuchak

Written on 3/28/2020

**_Features Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee, but way too much filler_** A researcher of the occult and esoterica (Peter Cushing) apprehends the skull of the nefarious Marquis de Sade and learns that something evil is attached to it, which negatively influences its owners. Patrick Wymark plays his source for artifacts while Christopher Lee plays a rival collector. Patrick Magee is on hand as an inspector. “The Skull” (1965) is worth checking out for fans of British horror featuring Cushing and/or Lee, but it places with the least of their works. There’s just way too much filler. The runtime could’ve been cut in half and it would’ve been a compelling mini-movie. As it is, it’s just too drawn out for the material to maintain interest. However, the theme is interesting: Can articles have evil spirits attached to them? During the days of the early Church, articles that Paul touched, like handkerchiefs and aprons, “were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” (Acts 19:11-12). It was the same thing with Peter’s shadow. These things had the anointing of God on them and thus physically or mentally ill people exposed to them were healed and demons fled! A good example from the Old Testament would be Elisha’s bones noted in 2 Kings 13. These various items were blessed as conduits of God’s power. Could the inverse also be true? Could certain items be cursed with a demonic non-anointing? If the former is true with the kingdom of light, isn’t it possible that the reverse is also true with the kingdom of darkness in some cases, particular items like idols? The movie runs 1 hour, 23 minutes and was shot at Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England; as well as Great Cumberland Place, Marylebone, London (Maitland's home). GRADE: C-

CinemaSerf

Written on 1/18/2025

When Christopher Lee tells you to leave well alone, well you should - even if you are Peter Cushing! The latter is "Maitland" who is offered a gruesome artefact by his rather dubious supplier "Marco" (Patrick Wymark) and when he mentions it to his collecting rival "Sir Matthew" (Lee) he is told that this was recently pinched from him and well, he decides to ignore the advice. It doesn't take him very long before he rues that decision. This skull belongs to the Marquis de Sade and his spirit is looking to continue to cause as much mischief as he can! To those ends, it can take over the minds of those close to it and manipulate their behaviour to do his will. Can the sceptical "Maitland" do what generations of his forebears have failed to do and thwart this malevolent force? This is one of my favourite Hammer horrors with plenty of accumulating menace; some clever photography - often from the skull's POV, it's hauntingly scored and the denouement isn't what I ever remember to expect after a fun eighty minutes of pure cinematic evil. It spares us the usual ketchup gimmickry and uses a little more psychology to fo the scaring, and I think it works quite well.

Media

Joe Dante on THE SKULL

Joe Dante on THE SKULL

IL TESCHIO MALEDETTO (1965) Con Peter Cushing - Trailer Originale

IL TESCHIO MALEDETTO (1965) Con Peter Cushing - Trailer Originale