What it lacks in coherence, Scream and Scream Again makes up for in pure weirdness.
As a fan of horror movies old and new, if you told me that Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, and Peter Cushing were in a movie, I’d be very excited to see it. If you told me the plot of that same movie — without telling me who was in it — I don’t think I’d be very excited. But Scream and Scream Again is a movie with that stellar cast and a plot that is difficult to explain. And I have to review it for you without spoiling it. That’s a daunting task indeed.
A police investigation into a series of bizarre murders inadvertently ties together a mad scientist, political assassinations, body parts, and vampirism. How’s that? Seriously, though, I don’t want to say too much more because this is a movie that’s nearly incomprehensible but remains very watchable. Based on a pulp novel called “The Disorientated Man,” there are three plot lines that eventually intersect. Saying much more would spoil the absolute lunacy of this movie.
I do have to warn potential viewers that the marquee billing of Lee, Price, and Cushing is a bit misleading. While Price appears in a good chunk of the film, it’s a relatively small role. Lee has several scenes but, again, is not a major player. Cushing merely has a brief cameo role that barely affects the plot at all. But, the actors who are more prominently featured are quite good, especially Alfred Marks, as the hilariously gruff Detective Bellaver.
Although released in 1970, Scream and Scream Again is a product of the late 1960s through and through. The music, attire, and camerawork are charmingly dated and exceedingly British. Especially notable are a pair of nightclub scenes featuring the band Amen Corner and what passed for dancing back then.
What it lacks in coherence, Scream and Scream Again makes up for in pure weirdness. It’s not scary at all but it is perplexing and fun.
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
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