A Showman in the Cinema

Showmanship, that is what is missing today from most movie theatres, some good old fashioned
showmanship. And who better to show us how its done than horror gimmick master William Castle
(1914 – 77). Castle was famous in the 50’s and 60’s for directing films with many gimmicks
which were ambitiously promoted, despite being reasonably low budget B-movies. At MUFF 10
we will have some gimmicks of our own in store for you the unsuspecting audience, so YOU have
been warned. Come and see some of Castle’s classic genre gimmick film pieces and think laterally
how these ideas could be marketed in today’s cinemas, and through new media. A new Tingler
could await us all! We salute the genius and innovation of William Castle at MUFF X!

Mr. Sardonicus
dir. William Castle / USA / 1961
9PM / Wed 26 Aug / Glitch

Craving for some more nightmarish extravagance, “my homicidal
friends”? Join William Castle for another slick tale of the macabre,
this time for an old-fashioned story where Castle explores the realm
of ‘ghouls’ in London’s Victorian era. Under mysterious circumstances
Sir Robert Cargrave, a highly advanced neurosurgeon, is appointed
to cure the terrifying Baron Sardonicus of a horrible curse that has
frozen his face permanently into a hideous grin. The terms are deadly
and unspeakable but even if Cargraves rises to the challenge, are his
methods advanced enough to cure such an unearthly disfigurement? Find
out in MUFF X’s exclusive double feature of William Castle’s Homicidal
and Mr. Sardonicus.

The Tingler
dir. William Castle / USA / 1958
11PM / Fri 28 Aug / Glitch

If you’ve ever wanted to know what would happen if you mixed David
Cronenberg with Ed Wood, well, do we have a surprise for you. Dr.
Warren Chapin, a work-obsessed scientist, spends his time studying
fear. His discovery of ‘the Tingler’ (an organism which dwells dormant
in the spinal cord of humans, rising to attack in moments of true
fear, only to be placated by the host’s scream) leads him down a path
of unknown terrors. What would happen if the Tingler escapes its host
altogether? If this fantastically zany concept isn’t enough for you,
Castle also offers up a stellar lead performance from Vincent Price,
as well as his trademark personal introductions to the audience, and
a superb score (albeit brazenly ripped off another thriller of the
same year…). If you see one sci-fi thriller/horror about homicidal
spinal cord inhabitants this year, make it William Castle’s The
Tingler. You won’t regret it - as long as you remember to scream…