The October Project 2: Day 28

 

 

"Each man creates his own God for himself, his own Heaven, his own Hell."

 

 

The Masque of the Red Death  (1964)

Directed by Roger Corman

 

 

Roger Corman may have a well-earned reputation as a purveyor of schlock but, when his heart was truly in a project, he could, with limited financial means, deliver a fine, well-crafted film like this one. I like all eight of Corman's Edgar Allen Poe inspired movies, even his goofy version of The Raven, but The Masque of the Red Death remains my favourite.
Vincent Price has a great time playing the evil sensualist Prince Prospero who cloisters himself and his followers inside his castle to pursue their most decadent fantasies as the titular "Red Death" ravages the countryside outside the walls. It's easily one of his best performance but, then again, he's good in all the Poe films, so you really should watch them all.
There is excellent, wide screen, colour-saturated cinematography by Nicolas Roeg and the script by Twilight Zone veteran Charles Beamont manages a perfect balance intelligence and melodrama. Despite all the genre trappings, this is a surprisingly philosophical film that debates question of morality and mortality while providing all the requisite chills and thrills. If you want a double feature any of the other Poe films will do, but I'm especially fond of The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tomb of Ligeia.