The Skull

Separated at birth?
(1965)***

Peter Cushing, who ironically was a living skull himself, is Professor Maitland, a collector of rare and unusual artifacts. His friend, Sir Matthew Phillips (Christopher Lee, of course), is also his competitor and the two often attempt to acquire the same pieces. When Professor Maitland is given to opportunity to purchase the skull of Marquis de Sade, he is only too gleeful to inform Phillips of this potential purchase (kind of like when I acquired the Death Star Gunner and it would take years before Octo would get his own). However Phillips quickly harshes Maitland’s mellow by informing him that the skull actually belonged to him and was recently stolen. When Maitland suggests that they go to the seller so Phillips can reclaim his stolen skull, Phillips proclaims that he is happy to be rid of it and begs Maitland not to purchase it because it exudes evil. Of course Maitland ignores his friend’s warnings and attempts to purchase the skull. However, upon arriving at the seller’s home Maitland finds him dead with the skull in the corner looking ominous. With such opportunity presenting itself, Maitland gives in to temptation and swipes the skull. Maitlan’s (good?) fortune quickly sours when the skull begins to exert its evil influence on its new owner.

Compared to a lot of 60s horror starring Cushing and Lee, The Skull moves at a quick pace and is not padded with long discussions about minutia. There is one scene, however, where the skull, now fully possessing Cushing, forces him to attempt to kill his wife. In this long sequence Cushing slowly gets a knife and slowly makes his descent to his wife, who is asleep in bed. Interspersed with Cushing’s slow crawl to his wife are shots the skull looking menacing. Before stabbing his wife he comes to his senses at the last moment and returns downstairs. Once back downstairs the skull begins looking menacing again and we’re basically treated to the same sequence all over again – and he still doesn’t stab his wife, pussy. Overall I really enjoyed The Skull and I believe it’s better than most of the mid-60s horror I’ve had to endure (I’m looking at you Roger Corman!).


Because my knowledge of history basically comes from the few times I’ve played Trivial Pursuit, I did not have the slightest idea who Marquis de Sade was, so I looked it up on Wikipedia, which stated the following [excerpt],

“Marquis de Sade (June 2, 1740 – December 2, 1814) was a French aristocrat, revolutionary and writer of philosophy-laden and often violent pornography. He was a philosopher of extreme freedom (or at least licentiousness), unrestrained by morality, religion or law, with the pursuit of personal pleasure being the highest principle. Sade was incarcerated in various prisons and in an insane asylum for about 32 years of his life… The term "sadism" is derived from his name”