Customer Reviews
At last on DVD in WIDESCREEN ! 
2008-08-23
Several other reviews cover just how good this Amicus release from 1965 is, so if you love Hammer, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, or just a good, scary film--buy THE SKULL. Atmospheric as all heck, with great cinematography and a truly unsettling score by Elisabeth Lutyens. And now, the good folks at Legend Films have contracted with Paramount to release this and a fistful of other movies for the first time on DVD! THE SKULL is in full 2:35 Widescreen color, and also included is the trailer. The print is clean and bright, sharp and clear with excellent sound. Thank you, Legend!
PS: If you like this title and others recently released by Legend, drop them a line and say thanks! They are very nice people and love the feedback!
A great Amicus film 2008-07-29
* Dr terror's house of horror, I monster, And now the screaming starts, The House that dripped blood, etc. All this films and many more from Amicus are little gems from the british golden age of horror.
It's such a pleasure now to have The Skull with, for Hammer fans, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Nigel Green (Countess Dracula), Patrick Magee (Demons of the mind), Michael Gough (Dracula), Peter Woodthorpe (The evil of Frankenstein), Freddie Francis (Dracula has risen from the grave).
* The widescreen image transfer is very good.
* Don't expect great visual effects, but the dark and mysterious atmosphere is guaranteed.
...A very good DVD.
Nice gothic style movie from Amicus 
2008-07-16
First of all, I am glad this Amicus classic is out on DVD. The actual release offers a very good widescreen, analog to digital transfer with the trailer as the only extra here. English subtitles are provided only. The movie clearly fits into the early 1960s' more gothic style of British horror. I am giving four stars to this film because the character played by Christopher Lee (sadly) does not do much on the script, and the ending is flat and a bit out of imagination. That said, I would never miss getting a copy of this atmospheric film, with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together once more. Hopefully two more Freddie Francis (director) titles will be produced on DVD soon, including "Tales that witness madness", and "Legend of the werewolf".
When the Skull Strikes, You Won't Scream 
2008-07-16
The Marquis De Sade was not insane - he was possessed by an evil spirit. Even after his death, this spirit continued to inhabit his body. The grave of the Marquis De Sade is violated and his skull removed. The spirit inhabiting the skull possesses those who come in contact with it. They are killed and/or forced to kill.
In "The Skull," Peter Cushing is Christopher Maitland, a collector of occult paraphernalia who, after a series of mysterious deaths, finally comes into possession of the skull of the Marquis De Sade. Naturally, there are deadly consequences.
This Amicus Production of gothic horror is beautifully filmed; it reminded me of some of Mario Bava's earlier works, namely "Kill, Baby . . . Kill." It has an appropriately creepy score. The acting is superb from a top notch cast that included Christopher Lee and Patrick MaGee. Unfortunately, the plot never gained any real momentum. It was very stagnant. Only one scene really grabbed my attention: when the blackmailing landlord falls over the stairwell balustrade and crashes through several panes of stained glass. A similar scene was done in Dario Argento's masterpiece "Suspiria."
"The Skull" does make good late night viewing, especially for fans of Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, and Amicus Productions. I recommend watching it alone with the lights out and candles burning.
At Last the DVD version! 2008-07-16
I waited a long time for the Dvd of this classic Amicus movie with my favorites actors in it (Cushing-Lee team). Thought I'm a little dissapoint, because I was hoping the video's quality was much better, with extra material and a some subtitles (I speek spanish, you now). Nevertheless, I can't wait for another of this movies at DVD such as "The Legend of the werewolf", "Nothing but the night", etc.
The Skull is Classic Hammer made by Amicus 2008-07-07
The Skull teams up horror legends Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in a chilling supernatural tale of murder from beyond the grave. Based on a short story by Robert Bloch (Psycho) The Skull introduces us to Dr. Christopher Maitland (Cushing) a collector of the ccult. When he is given the opportunity to purchase one of the infamous Marquis de Sade he leaps at the chance. What he doesn't know is that his friend Matthew Phillips (Lee) is the former owner of the skull - and quite happy to be rid of it. Possession of The Skull leads to a terrifying series of nightmarish events for Dr. Maitland as he tries to keep control of his life the forces of unspeakable evil bear down upon him.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR/EVIL UPC: 844503000187 Manufacturer No: LF00180
Stellar 2008-06-27
A knockout performance from Peter Cushing, one of the horror genre's real icons. Cushing could save the worst scripts from themselves but that doesn't apply here. This is a vehicle for real talent: a good story, outstanding lead and excellent support. The last half-hour or so leaves you breathless with terror as Cushing stretches out in a role he clearly enjoys. This really is one for the road: a character-driven horror story. I don't know if it gets any better than this.
Effective chiller with great cast 2008-06-26
Here's a real treat: A non-Hammer pairing of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee from 1965, which actually outshines much of the work the pair did for Hammer. The simple yet highly engaging story (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD) centers around the title object, the alleged skull of the infamous Marquis de Sade. When Christopher Maitland (Cushing) acquires the stolen skull, he consults with its former owner (Lee), who warns Maitland that he'd probably be much better off without it.
Soon, the skull is possessing those around it, inciting them to kill. Maitland himself eventually succumbs to its evil influence, and Cushing admirably carries much of the film alone, propelled by Elisabeth Lutyen's eerie, jangly score. Director Freddie Francis keeps the camera moving, even boldy setting up several shots from the skull's point-of-view. And the skull itself is a marvellously unsettling prop--as much a character in the film as the flesh-and-blood ones. The technicolor photography is gorgeous to look at, and has been lovingly reproduced for this DVD.
The only extra included is the terrific theatrical trailer, which gives away a bit too much, but will certainly make viewers want to see the entire film. In fact, I'd suggest watching it before the movie to really whet your appetite for a good old-fashioned chiller in the classic mold. Highly recommended for fans of classic horror.
Very good Amicus picture 2008-06-22
"The Skull" was, until this lovely DVD release, one of the rarely seen Amicus horror classics. Very creepy with a good atmosphere for horror and Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee made it what it is, a horror classic different to many others. Patrick Wymark was well suited in his role in this film too. In 2.35:1 widescreen and a nice transfer, another great offering from Legend Films, a top name for rare films coming to DVD!
The Skull of the Marquis de Sade 2008-06-09
"The Skull" is a top-of-the-line horror flick directed by Freddie Francis, who also directed the excellent but little-known and critically underrated "Nightmare." Peter Cushing is in fine form in this pure and simple scary movie devoid of all the glop and goo, bloody entrails, the obligatory chainsaw (of course), and gobs of brains of modern horror movies. If "The Skull" has any shortcomings it would be its more or less anticlimactic ending. Robert Bloch ("Psycho") wote the intelligent script.
