Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The Shuttered Room is directed by David Greene and written by D.B. Ledrov and Nathaniel Tanchuck. Adapted from a story by August Derleth and H.P. Lovecraft, it stars Gig Young, Carol Lynley, Oliver Reed, Flora Robson and Judith Arthy. Music is by Basil Kirchin and cinematography by Kenneth Hodges.Returning to her childhood home, an old mill house on the island of Dunwich, Susannah (Lynley) and her older husband Mike (Young) are plagued by local rowdies led by Susana's cousin Ethan (Reed). Not only that but the local elders constantly keep telling them it would be unwise to take up residency in the old mill...It's funny that some film fans have expressed disappointment with the final revelation of The Shuttered Room, because the secret is revealed from the get go! Something which takes the mystery away and goes someway to explaining why director Greene then fills his film with 90% of narrative based around Oliver's Army being uncouth and seriously detrimental to the sexual well being of poor, confused, traumatised, Susannah.Here's the problem, even forgiving that it's about as Lovecraftian as a Rob Zombie remake, the film just doesn't have the requisite horror substance to make it viable as frightening. Don't get me wrong, had I watched this as a boy I'm sure I would have been spooked out by the spooky old mill that houses a secret, resplendent with holes in the woodwork where prying eyes watch goings on, and most likely be more terrified by Reed's bonkers over acting and Young's transformation into Bruce Lee than the iffy accents I wouldn't have recognised back then. But really, the shuttered room axis of the story is very much a secondary item, and not even the classy Flora Robson can wring out terror from such clumsy story construction.Still, on the plus side there's a unique unsettling musical score by Kirchin, a wonderful fusion of prog-jazz and medieval distortional beats, even if it's in the wrong movie! There's laughs to be had, though unintentional, especially with some of the dialogue being served on a dirty cheese board, and Lynley is good value as a troubled cipher. You have to wonder if Sam Peckinpah watched The Shuttered Room and thought he could do better and promptly sought out The Siege of Trencher's Farm novel to turn it into Straw Dogs, sensing that he knew he could make a similar themed film more frightening and controversial. But of course, The Shuttered Room wasn't meant to be a backwoods Gothic movie involving home invasion and the constant threat of rape. Was it? 5/10

People always comment and make fun of the evil twin... I always thought the idea to be funny and to belong to comedy skits or parodies. But surprisingly somebody has taken this concept seriously and transformed it in one of the most tedious and soul-less films I ever watched.Nothing much happens during the whole snore-fest, a few scenes of attempted rape (no exposed skin), a bunch of hillbillies behaving in a very stereotypical way (they are always evil dimwitted troglodytes. There are as always people doing dumb things and the movie hero knows some karate moves, and he demonstrates his prowess in a very funny scene. And the conclusion was painful to watch, it was as stupid as possible, because all the bad things that happened were caused by an evil mentally deranged twin...Ah!, by the way, this has nothing to do with H.P. Lovecraft.The main actress has a very cute face. But it does not pay to watch this film because of her. It is good for insomnia, though.

It's impossible to warn people about this film without spoilers.The Shuttered Room does begin like a modern adaptation of a Lovecraft story would. Daughter sent away to live in the city. Parents killed by a lightning strike. An old crone harboring secrets. Soon however the plot descends into a running chase to keep the protagonist from being deflowered by a village tough, played by Oliver Reed. While Reed is good in this role (he may be the best actor in this film), Robert Blake did it better in "In Cold Blood." Gig Young is Uber-Urbanite in this film. He shows no fear, fights off scores of village ruffians (his kung fu is greater) and even drives a vehicle which reminded me of the Batmobile. Seriously. He solves the mystery of the Shuttered Room, which has persisted for decades, in a few days.The crone's admission near the end of the film ultimately removes this film from anything even remotely associated with Lovecraft. Far from anything supernatural, the secret in the Shuttered Room is the protagonist's feral sister, the Whateley curse made up to protect the poor girl. Indeed, the director tries to make you feel sorry for the "monster." Right. Feel Sorry for the monster. This ain't no "At the Mountains of Madness." In my opinion, if you want Lovecraft on film, your best bet is still "The Dunwich Horror" with Dean Stockwell's creepy performance as Wilbur Whateley.

A friend of mine took me for a ride in Wisconsin and on a country road he showed me a rather old house that was hidden by a great deal of trees and bushes My friend proceeded to tell me that in this house August Derleth lived who was a great writer of mysteries and Sci-Fi books. Once I found out this information I started to read most of his books and this film shows his great talent for writing very scary tales of murder and the mentally ill. Gig Young, (Mike Kelton) and Carol Lynley, (Susannah Kelton) leave New York and decide to look at an old mill that Susannah had been willed which is on an island and with very few people living around this area. The people are not very friendly and warn them about going into the old mill and even staying the night. Oliver Reed, (Ethan) plays the role as a very horny man who is constantly after Susannah, even though she is married and this goes on throughout the entire film. Great entertaining film which will hold your interest. Enjoy.