Let me tell you about Eric. He lives up the road there at that big estate. He got himself married again. Jenni, I think her name is. Such a pretty young thing. But I tell you the death of Eric’s first wife hangs like a shadow over that place. Slipped in the rain and cracked her skull open some say. I have to wonder if that weird caretaker of theirs didn’t have something to do with it. I been hearing weird things about that place - Jenni seeing skulls appearing out of nowhere and other ghastly things. I can’t decide if someone is playing cruel pranks on her, if she’s off her rocker, or if there might really be a ghost floating around. Maybe the first wife is jealous of the new bride? You should listen to the whole story and decide for yourself.

The Screaming Skull has made it to the list of my favorite black and white horror movies. It is based on Francis Marion Crawford’s story which gets its title from a real screaming skull legend although there doesn’t seem to be much connection between the fictional tale and the legend. It bears some similarities to one of my other favorite movies of this era House on Haunted Hill predominantly in the unsurety of where the human element ends and the supernatural begins. I’ve always rather enjoyed that sort of blend. It leaves a lot open to the imagination of individual patrons.

The downfall of this movie is that it takes a while to get to the payoff. There is a great deal of establishing characters and backstory, then a gradual working in of the more horrific elements. Some of this setup is good; it lends a more literary feel to the narrative and serves to make memorable characters beyond some random couple plagued by mysterious happenings. On the other hand it can get dull until it gets into the real meat of the horror story. However, with the payoff being what it is, I came to appreciate such focus on characterization.

A little better acting might have saved some of the duller moments, as they can come across stiff, however overall the actors do well enough to keep the story alive. The effects save the reality of the illusion better than a lot of old movies. They can’t compare to what you might see today, but they sell the movie.


CONTENT:
I didn’t notice any bad language at all, no sexuality or anything of that nature. There is very little violence although there are some creepy moments of skulls and ghostly visions. I’d say this is fine for younger viewers that aren’t prone to cinema-induced nightmares.


DVD:
As usual with these old movies there are going to be a lot of offerings. I know this one is included in at least 2 multi-movie collections. Mine is in a 50 pack of “Horror Classics.” This version is presented in widescreen.

The audio and video quality is pretty good compared to other movies of the era. The action is clearly visible and the dialogue easy to make out at all times. There are no extras unfortunately.


FINAL THOUGHTS:
I realize that a lot of people think this is a stinker of a movie. I wonder how many of those opinions are influenced by the Mystery Science Theater rib, though? I have nothing against making fun of the movie, I would actually love to see the guys poke at it, but if that is your only exposure to this movie then give it a chance as a real story. If you like black and white ghost stories this is a must see. The slower moments hold it back some, but the whole of the production is good enough to get 4*.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12