A Masterpiece!

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Shakespearean Ham actor Edward Lionheart is heartbroken when a critic's choice circle awards a bratty newcomer as Best Actor of the Year and plots bloody revenge on the stuffy journalists who denied him his cherished accolade with a series of gruesome, ironic deaths.Vincent Price is allowed to dial-up the drama here and goes OTT without being ridiculous. Lionheart is a sympathetic anti-hero with a diabolical mind. There's no doubt in my mind that this movie inspired future horror juggernauts such as Se7en and Saw, only with a very dark sense of humor and a glorious musical score.As a time capsule of lost London this film offers a priceless glimpse into locations long-gone. Not one scene of Theatre of Blood was shot in a studio with every single location being a once-tangible place, most notably the old Puntney Hippodrome which Lionheart makes into his secret lair (now a block of council flats...why?). But, man, am I glad I was not yet alive to witness those grisly fashions.There's a rugged urgency to Theatre of Blood that disconnects it from the more grand horror productions of Vincent Price's career, however it makes for a fitting bookend to a solid 20-year run.

This ingeniously nasty film could be described as an actors' revenge taken to extremes. It has nothing but the utmost reverence for the works of William Shakespeare, and the filmmakers have great fun with their clever premise. More squeamish theatre and horror fans may find the gory violence hard to stomach, but the cast is just STACKED with top notch British thespians who make the most of the material. Written with delicious wit by Anthony Greville- Bell (based on an idea by producers Stanley Mann and John Kohn) and masterfully directed by Douglas Hickox ("Brannigan", "Zulu Dawn"), it hooks you early on and keeps you amused right through all of its outlandish sequences.Vincent Price has the role(s) of a lifetime, in what has to rank as one of his best ever vehicles (if not THE best). If "Theater of Blood" accomplishes nothing else, it serves to show what a talent the man was. He plays Edward Lionheart, an overly hammy actor who ONLY performs Shakespeare. He's been savaged by a particular circle of critics, and denied their prestigious award. Thought to be dead, he resurfaces to wreak vengeance upon them, murdering them in the style of famous death scenes from The Bards' plays.Price is extremely well supported by performers like Ian Hendry, Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Michael Hordern, Arthur Lowe, Robert Morley, Dennis Price, Milo O'Shea, and Eric Sykes. Sexy Diana Rigg is a joy as she plays Lionhearts' very loyal daughter Edwina. It's no wonder that Price himself would have considered this a personal favorite, as he gets to do so many things. For example: donning an Afro and playing a hair stylist! He'd been accused in real life of going for theatrics too often, so he gets to have the last laugh here.Well staged (the fencing duel with Hendry is a standout), and memorably sick (Morley is force fed a little something special), "Theater of Blood" is a must for any Vincent Price fan.Eight out of 10.

"Theater of Blood" (1973, Douglas Hickox), a comedic horror film about an insane theater actor who begins killing off a circle of theater critics by reenacting moments in Shakespeare, fails to reach its potential, despite a great concept and a talented, exciting cast. Two problems it has are: 1) showing almost all of gory violence; 2) Mediocre direction. It is still a cult film that is worth watching, but prepare for some disappointment.Vincent Price is splendid as the long-suffering Shakespearean actor Edward Lionheart. After years of being abused by a smug group of reviewers, he recruits a small group of downtrodden people to participate in his murderous revenge. The monologues where Price is describing the crimes of the next critic to be killed off are one of the pleasures here. The flashback where Price interrupts the critics having a meal in a swanky restaurant to challenge their recognition of a rival actor with a prestigious year end (1970) theatrical award, is a great idea and is mostly amusing.Diana Rigg, playing the thespian's supportive daughter, is one the best reasons to stick this out. She looks fantastic; absolutely beautiful. While she is a direct accomplice in her father's killing spree, she is so photogenic and adept with her delivery that she counters the distaste of the gore. There is no doubt that Ms. Rigg would have been a very thrilling actress to watch on stage, as she is always entertaining just to listen to.Another cast member who is solid is Ian Hendry (Peregrine Devlin). Devlin is the theater critic that Lionheart hesitates to kill. The two have a prolonged sword fight in a gym with comedic touches. Devlin and Lionheart seem connected, particularly when Devlin asks for Lionheart to put him out of his misery. It seems reasonable to believe that Devlin is Lionheart's doppleganger.Too bad Rainer Werner Fassbinder did not direct this. Fassbinder would have hit it out the park. Hickox has great opportunities to make an impression but his imagery always fails to interest. Also, the quotient of violence is difficult to sit through.

Horror and Gore Fans are often criticized for being Low Brow, so here's one to put a fly in the ointment. Combining early Seventies new found Bloodletting and Shakespeare, it plays out like an unlikely alliance between the profane and the sublime.It is a highly regarded Movie that has the ability to persuade Critics to like it (ha ha). It is a full Movie to be sure with loads of Costumes, stylized murders, WS, and Vincent Price parodying Vincent Price in His many Horror Movie roles. He is in Seventh Heaven here literally winking at the Camera and changing His look with every Scene.The Story is inspired but the Production has a claustrophobic feel and a frenzied attitude that if pulled back a little would have made this Good Movie even better. A solid Professional Cast is mixed with a gang of hooligans that are more irritating than threatening. The Cinematography is pedestrian and a few Scenes are hardly more than acceptable.But there is enough here to sustain its rather long length, just enough. It is a bit overrated but so gutsy and daring that it cannot be ignored.