Cinedelica: Demons Of The Mind (1972)

Demons By the early 70s, everyone was getting just a little bored with Hammer's continual remakes of Frankenstein and Dracula (not that it stopped them making more), so new ideas were needed. And although most of these weren't commercially successful, for me the latter years of Hammer were some of its more interesting.

Demons Of The Mind is a typical example. A strange film set in a typical Hammer location - a small village full of pitchfork-wielding yokels and busty young ladies, dominated by a local manor on a hill. But instead of a vampire or a monster on the loose, we have a mad serial killer.

And no prizes for guessing where that serial killer lives. Yes, the local manor house. That's where a local baron (Zorn - played by Robert Hardy) keeps his children locked up and away from outside influence. You see, there's a 'madness' in the family and the baron wants to make sure the children don't succumb to it. But as the bodies piles up, is it too late? Or is someone else in the house responsible? Don't worry - the bizarre climax with burning torches, pitchforks and a rather nasty spot of mutilation will sort it all out.

Its an interesting and slightly strange movie, with a plot that's never quite fully explained. Yes, you get the idea that some kind of psychotic behaviour is being passed on, but you never quite understand how, even after watching the movie a couple of times. And there's a rather strange love interest thrown in, courtesy of ex-Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones, which somehow seems a bit surplus to events.

But there are some great performances - Hardy is superb as the troubled baron, Shane Briant as Emil, the equally troubled son and Patrick Magee as the doctor asked to sort it all out. Indeed, if you're a Hammer fan, you will certainly enjoy this - although you might walk away thinking that the idea is somewhat better than the actual end product.

Available as part of the Hammer Box Set - find out more at Amazon.co.uk