The Beast in the Cellar *** (1971, Beryl Reid, Flora Robson, Tessa Wyatt, John Hamill, T P McKenna, Dafydd Harvard, Vernon Dobtcheff) – Classic Movie Review 7855

Writer-director James Kelley’s 1971 British horror movie The Beast in the Cellar stars the formidable team of Flora Robson and Beryl Reid as Joyce and Ellie Ballantyne, a couple of dear old spinsters who have been keeping their berserk brother Stephen (Dafydd Harvard) hidden since the World War Two conflict in the cellar of their house near a rural English town, where soldiers are being brutally murdered by an unknown creature.

The two distinguished older stars are unexpectedly cast but they really do make something chilling, compelling and affecting out of it – more than it deserves, maybe, if judged just based on Kelly’s serviceable but not too special screenplay. T P McKenna also stands out as Detective Chief Superintendent Paddick, the police official investigating the murders. They bring class to the film.

Writer-director Kelley keeps this intriguing and creepy Tigon horror thriller nice and taut, compact and involving. It was shot at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England.

Also in the cast are Tessa Wyatt, John Hamill, David Dodimead, Christopher Chittell, John Kelland, Vernon Dobtcheff, Anthony Heaton, Gail Lidstone, Elizabeth Choice, Merlyn Ward, and Peter Craze.

The Beast in the Cellar is directed by James Kelley [James Kelly], runs 101 minutes, is made by Tigon British Film Productions and Leander Films, is released by Tigon (UK) and Cannon (US), is written by James Kelley [James Kelly] (original screenplay), is shot in Eastmancolor by Harry Waxman and Desmond Dickinson, is produced by Tony Tenser (executive producer), Graham Harris (producer) and Christopher Neame (associate producer), and is scored by Tony Macaulay, with art direction by Roger King.

Robson and Reid were annoyed at the cuts and changes made in post-production, which they thought damaged the film. Along with the cuts, executive producer Tony Tenser ordered the addition of sex and violence inserts to raise the film’s commercial potential. It made the film less arty and more of a horror movie.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7855

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com