Themes: Mad Scientists, Robots and Androids, Toys Come to Life
Main Cast: Peter Cushing, Britt Ekland, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee, Robert Powell
Release Year: 1972
Country: UK
Run Time: 88 minutes
Plot
Four short stories by master of macabre Robert Bloch are related by the inmates of a mental institution. In the first story, Richard Todd murders his wife and cuts her body into little pieces -- but that doesn't stop her from seeking revenge. In the second, Peter Cushing orders crooked tailor Barry Morse to weave a coat from a magic fabric in order to bring Cushing's son back from the dead (this one was previously dramatized on the TV series Thriller). The third story stars Charlotte Rampling as a schizophrenic whose "doppelganger" is manifested in the person of Britt Ekland. The final tale involves demented toymaker Herbert Lom and his army of killer robots. Robert Bloch himself adapted his original source material for the screen. Asylum was also known as House of Crazies. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Asylum is a textbook example of the skill that Amicus Productions showed for producing entertaining horror anthology films. Robert Bloch's script is built on an ingenious hook -- it has a psychologist listening to patients' stories so he can identify which patient is the asylum's former head doctor -- and this approach allows the stories to flow together in a natural manner. Some of the stories are stronger than others (the one revolving around Charlotte Rampling is probably the weakest of the bunch), but the clever framework ensures they all work together as a piece. Director Roy Ward Baker helms the proceedings with subtle style, giving them moody lighting and artful camera movements that enhance the spooky mood without ever overdoing it. Another key aspect of Asylum's appeal is that, like most of the Amicus anthologies, it has a star-studded cast that is fun to watch. The scene stealers here include Richard Todd as a scheming husband, Peter Cushing as a customer who makes odd demands on his tailor, and Herbert Lom as an asylum patient with the unusual habit of making small mannequins. It all adds up to an old-fashioned blast of horror-movie fun. Thus, Asylum is a solid choice for genre fans in search of some old-fashioned chills. ~ Donald Guarisco, All Movie Guide
