To start, I must say that I was very much impressed with Robert Alda’s performance in this film. I have mentioned in the past that it has appeared to me that the level of expectation in regard to acting in the 1960’s and prior was not quite as high as it is today. However, with that being said, I believe that, based on this performance, Alda could have been successful in today’s Hollywood. This film, in general, was terribly corny and at times I questioned the integrity of the film due to the less than average acting and the almost uncomfortably cheesy scenes involving satanic rituals. Amidst the oddities that took place throughout this film, I thought that Alda stood strong as his character, Rick Turner, and essentially helped to carry the story. Similarly, there was something unique about Neil Hamilton’s Francis Lamont. I do not believe that his acting was anywhere near the level of Alda’s, however, his lack of ability brought an odd, creepy, tone to the film. It seemed apparent that Hamilton’s acting was less than adequate due to his facial expressions and nearly every one of his words being seemingly forced, but, something about his lack of ability made him creepy. Regardless of the fact that much of what took place was cheesy, the story was actually enjoyable and one of the more impressive storylines from the older films Stephanie and I have watched to date. My favorite part of the film was the very end. The way that director William J. Hole Jr. and writer Jo Heims wrapped the film up, essentially making the story run full circle and ending with Ariadne Welter’s Donna Trent in a similar situation to the one she was in early in the film successfully completed the story as far as I’m concerned. The story and the acting, as a whole, was not strong, however, there were glimpses in which I was highly impressed and, ultimately, those spurts of brilliance are what made the film enjoyable. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055902/?ref_=nv_sr_2
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