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Loosely based on the works of Lovecraft and starring longtime Gordon pal Jeffrey Combs, Castle Freak is not much more than a gory modernization on the old Haunted Mansion tale. Combs is a miserable drunkard who (correctly) feels responsible for the death of his son, so the news of an inherited castle seems to promise a brighter future. With his wife and (blind) daughter in tow, our somber hero settles into his new home.

Unfortunately for the whole clan (and a few unlucky neighbors), this castle is occupied by a FREAK. More specifically, a 40-year-old frothing lunatic manchild who’s withstood a lifetime of horrible beatings and physical disfigurements. (Funny how they always mention the amount of closet space in a new home, but never the inclusion of bloodthirsty monsters.) Needless to say, homicidal freaks and unpleasant humans are never a match made in heaven. Bodies begin to pile up.

What Castle Freak lacks in newness it aims to make up for in gore. Rarely do you see a film that combines graphic sex and cannibal gore to such grisly effect, and that may be a good thing, but it’s important to praise a movie for what it gets right – and this one contains a few moments of crotch-chomping nastiness that even the most ardent gorehound will appreciate.

Another asset is the gloomy atmosphere, a compliment that’s often used as a polite way to say “good-looking but dull”, but Castle Freak does offer a wet and gothic chill that helps add to the film’s overall icky mood. (OK, it’s dull too, but only in a few spots.)

Bottom line is that this one represents the middle tier of Gordon’s work; not interesting enough to bring in new fans, but easily solid enough to entertain those who just got done watching Re-Animator for the 45th time.

At the very least, Gordon continues to pay serviceable homage to H.P. Lovecraft – which is a lot more than most horror producers bother to do.

link directly to this review at http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=3129&reviewer=128
originally posted: 04/29/04 17:16:13
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