The Skull  
Directed by Freddie Francis
Written by Milton Subotsky from a story by Robert Bloch
1965/UK
Amicus Productions
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Sir Matthew Phillips: [to Maitland] All I can say to you is keep away from the skull of the Marquis de Sade! [/box]

A genuinely scary little film from Amicus – though most of the chills are provided by the screechy score.

The eccentric Maitand (Peter Cushing) is a collector of the bizarre and macabre.  As the film begins, he is outbid on a lot of grotesque gargoyles by fellow connoisseur Matthew Phillips (Christopher Lee).  Then creepy Anthony Marco approaches Maitland with a volume, bound in human skin, containing the writings of the Marquis de Sade. <Shudder> Maitland snaps that offer up paving the way for his acquisition of the Marquis’s skull.

Maitland soon discovers that the skull was stolen from Sir Matthew.  Far from wanting his property back, though, he warns Maitland to stay far, far away.  But it’s too late.  Maitland is already possessed by the skull’s evil spirit.

The film does an admirable job at creating thrills with smoke and mirrors.  The skull takes on a real malevolence without moving and the score builds to nail biting crescendos.  Peter Cushing is always so good!