THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH(1964)
(Directed by Roger Corman)
"Love the title, love the movie even more!"- Signed by MartialHorror.
Plot: A peasant girl is held captive by a sadistic Prince who worships Satan. He wishes to bring her to the dark side as ‘the red death’(a plague) ravages the lands.
Review:
“The Masque of the Red Death” has to be the most thematic horror film that I’ve ever seen. Or is it even a horror film? Honestly, I have absolutely no idea how to describe it. Perhaps it’s a drama or a thriller masked as a horror film. Corman certainly films “The Masque of the Red Death” as if it was a horror film, but the story itself feels kind of like a dark twist on Shakespeare. If I had to compare it to anything, it would be Akira Kurosawa’s “Throne of Blood”. The movie is chilling and suitably creepy, yet I can’t call it a horror film. Yet despite not getting the horror film that I wanted, “The Masque of the Red Death” is truly a fascinating film, although it’s not for everyone.
Prince Prospero(Vincent Price) is a sadistic bastard, ruling the peasant villages around him by terrorizing the masses. His latest subject of cruelty is a young peasant girl named Francesca(Jane Asher), whom he forces to choose between her father(Nigel Green) and lover(David Weston) so that only one will survive. However, this is interrupted by the revelation that a plague known as the ‘Red Death’(represented by a dude wearing all red) is spreading throughout the countryside. Prospero takes the three peasants to the castle and invites all the nobles there for protection against the plague. But it turns out Prospero has sinister intentions. In fact, he is a Satanist who wants to corrupt poor Francesca.
While Roger Corman is now known for producing the cheapest movies known to mankind(he has even entered the realm of the Scyfy channel), he demanded respect back in the 1960’s. He had an uncanny ability to make cheap look expensive, and “Masque of the Red Death” is one of his most lavish looking productions. Corman does his usual Gothic horror movie tricks: flashy lighting(he loves using red), thick fog(always effective), shocking violence(for the time) and a haunting score(of course!). Everything seems to cast a shadow, which he exploits, and he has plenty of genuine ‘fright’ moments, usually when Francesca is exploring the castle or during an intense dream sequence. Yet as I said, I can’t call this your traditional horror film.
My interpretation of “The Masque of the Red Death” is that it’s about how people respond to the thought of dying. Everyone fears death, even if they don’t truly appreciate it. People are driven to wicked, decadent ways due to their fear of ‘death’, turning to the Satanic arts in order to prevent it. Decent, God-fearing people are so broken up by the plague, their true form as faithless cowards is brought to light. Yet more shockingly, the film is surprisingly secular in regards to ‘death’. Yes, there is some possible evidence that God or Satan exists in the film, but Death’s claim that God and Satan only exists within peoples minds is a truly devastating claim. They are personifications of peoples fear of death and death brings that out in people(whether it’s positive or negative). In the film, the only thing absolute is that death exists and it is unpredictable and cannot be bartered with. Corman amplifies this with plenty of symbolism, creating more of a horror version of “The Seventh Seal”. The films thematic material is shocking, creating a more realistic sense of horror.
This theme is carried by Vincent Price’s performance as Prospero. Price commands the screen, adding a touch of humanity to his vile nature. Prospero has moments where he almost might redeem himself, and Price handles the character like he possibly was once a decent human being who was ruined by the exploits of nature. But all these human touches do is make him seem more monstrous. He’s not a true monster like Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger, he is just a very bad man. These moments of possible redemption make his cruel moments seem crueler because it makes him very real. After all, no one is cruel all the time.
“The Masque of the Red Death” is simply a very unique and fantastic movie. People might get bored of the slow burn pace, but I found the whole concept and execution to be fascinating. Few horror movies can be deemed intelligent, but that is what “The Masque of the Red Death” is. I personally prefer Roger Corman’s and Vincent Price’s 2nd collaboration, “The Pit and the Pendulum”, which is much more of a traditional(albeit wonderfully executed) horror film. But “The Masque of the Red Death” is something else entirely. I don’t feel I’ve done the movie justice with this petty review. All I can say is that it is in a league of its own.
Violence: Rated PG-13 worthy. For the time it was shocking, but it’s relatively tame by todays standards.
Nudity: Nothing explicit.
Overall: “The Masque of the Red Death” is a must see for fans of intelligent and unique horror films(presuming it is a horror film).
4/4 Stars