An inspector from Scotland Yard investigates the disappearance of a film star, and the trail leads him to the man's last known residence, a remote house somewhere in the English countryside. While seeking information at the local police station, the inspector is told four stories involving the home's former residents.
"Method for Murder"
A horror novelist (Denholm Elliot) and his wife move into the house, where the author hopes to find inspiration for his latest work. He begins writing about a strangler named Dominic, and in no time he begins to see his creation as a flesh-and-blood man who lurks around the house and its grounds. Fearing that he is losing his mind and having no memory of a strangulation attack against his wife that she swears he committed, the writer seeks help from a psychiatrist, only for Dominic to arrive and throttle the therapist to death. And then it gets weird...
"Waxworks"
A lonely retired stockbroker (Peter Cushing) moves into the house, and it is clear that he pines for a lost love, the rivalry for whom led to a years-long falling out with his best friend. While exploring the nearby town, he encounters a wax museum that includes a figure of Salome bearing John the baptist's head on a platter, a figure that mesmerizes him because it's the spitting image of his lost love. Disturbed, he returns home, and his former friend unexpectedly drops in. The pair reconcile, and while the broker shows his old friend around the town, the friend notes the wax museum and wants to check it out, despite the stockbroker's obvious reluctance. Upon seeing the wax figure of Salome, the friend is transfixed and soon becomes obsessed by its visage. And then it gets weird...
"Sweets to the Sweet"
A widower (Christopher Lee) and his young daughter move into the house. The girl has a terrible fear of fire, and her father does not allow her to own any toys or associate with other children. A nanny is hired and she begins to bond with the sheltered child, but she cannot help but question why the girl's father so strictly treats his daughter as he does. And then it gets weird...
"The Cloak"
A hammy actor (Jon Pertwee) known for playing vampires and possessing a fascination with the lore of monsters moves into the house, hoping its gothic authenticity will further inspire his craft. While filming the cheesy low-budget "Curse of the Blood Suckers," the actor is appalled by how cheap the production is, so he balks at the costumes and opt to obtain a proper cape himself, one that he feels suits the role with more dignity. In his dressing room, he finds an anonymous note with the address of a shop that can provide him with what he needs. He obtains a sumptuous Dracula-style cloak, and when he dons it just before shooting resumes, he notes he does not cast a reflection in the mirror. And then it gets weird...
THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD is one of several portmanteau horror films from Amicus studios, and it serves a fun entry-level anthology for younger viewers. There are superior anthologies, but this one is worth a watch. It's creepy but not actually scary or gory, and the cast is superb. I neglected to mention the always welcome presence of the eternally stunning Ingrid Pitt in "The Cloak," but that's best left for you to see for yourself. If I had to break it down, the last two stories are the strongest, with "Sweets to the Sweet" being a bit of a slow burn, while "The Cloak" is clearly meant as a comedy.
And did I mention Ingrid Pitt? YUM!
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