THE REPTILE (1966)

 IN A RECENT VIDEO, TERRY FROST COMPARED HAMMER HORRORS "THE GORGON" AND "THE REPTILE".  

His points were very well-made and interesting to this guy who has seen both movies more times than he can remember.  THE GORGON is one of my all-time favourite Hammer Horrors while THE REPTILE was thought by me to be good but unremarkable.

Part of Hammer's quartet of horrors shot back to back reusing sets and casts for economy's sake:  DRACULA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS and RASPUTIN, THE MAD MONK plus the "Cornish" duo of PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES and THE REPTILE.   In double features, DRAC was paired with PLAGUE and RASPUTIN teamed with REPTILE; obviously so people wouldn't see the same cast and sets back-to-back.  THE REPTILE, I believe, was shot last and had to make due with whatever budget was left after the first 3.  Despite this, THE REPTILE was always a really great Hammer Horror anyway; it was only in comparison with other Hammers that it came a little farther down the pecking order as far as my affections were concerned.  However, I always really liked it.  Terry Frost, however, makes the case in his recent yootuberz video that, not only are THE GORGON and THE REPTILE basically the same plot but also THE REPTILE is the superior film.  I'm not sure I buy that conclusion -- I adore THE GORGON and have rewatched that at least twice as many times as I have THE REPTILE -- but I thought a new rewatch was in order to see if THE REPTILE went up in my estimation.  Charles Spalding (David Baron) enters the manor house of Dr. Franklyn (Noel Willman) and is attacked and killed by a reptilian creature.  Brother Harry (Ray Barrett) and his wife Valerie (Jennifer Daniel) come to the Cornish village to take over Charles' bequest.  Harry enters the village pub and his very appearance clears out every single punter in the place!  Publican Tom Bailey (the glorious Michael Ripper) comes out from the back and is stunned that his entire pub has been cleared out of customers. 

He explains that Harry is a stranger and the locals don't like strangers in these parts.  "You're not thinking of living there permanently, are ya?" asked Tom, who advises him to take his advice and sell his brothers cottage 'Larkrise' and leave.  You've seen enough Hammer films (and Universal ones, for that matter) that you can write this dialogue all by yourself.  But the absolute integrity and conviction with which Barrett & Ripper play the seen sells it!  Superb acting.  The stern and tyrannical Dr. Franklyn has a daughter Anna (Jacqueline Pearce) whom he rules with an iron fist.  The Spaldings take a liking to the young lady and befriend her.  Unfortunately, the village is plagues by more murders.  The victims have two puncture marks widely-spaced on their necks and their faces turn black while they froth at the mouth.  Nasty. 

Of course, everyone watching knows exactly who the culprit is; as they do in THE GORGON as well.  Perhaps not so coincidentally, John Gilling (who directed THE REPTILE) wrote the screenplay for THE GORGON.  I never realized that until Terry Frost pointed it out so there is little wonder why the two movies do appear to be two sides of the same coin. Australian Ray Barrett does a fine job as Harry but the main joy of this (and many other Hammer Horrors) is the superb supporting cast.  Noel Willman you will remember from KISS OF THE VAMPIRE; here he gives a suitably burdened and cursed portrayal of Dr. Franklyn while Jacqueline Pearce (most famous for her time on BLAKE'S 7) is sympathetic and likeable as Anna.  Frost is quite right also in pointing out that THE REPTILE features perhaps the biggest role Michael Ripper ever had in a Hammer Horror and he takes full advantage.  Always the consummate actor, Ripper usually stole every scene he was in (no matter how small).  Christopher Lee once noted during an interview that he and Peter Cushing used to joke about being supporting players in a Michael Ripper film. 

The magnificent John Laurie appears and a doom and gloom Chicken Little character proclaiming that the village is evil and cursed.  Indian-born Marne Maitland as 'The Malay' (British imperialism apparently doesn't require his character to have a name) fulfills the same 'mysterious/sinister Asian' role as George Pastell's Mehemet Bey in Hammer's 1959 THE MUMMY.  Maitland, who isn't given practically any dialogue to work with, offers a gravitas and authority in the role which is both threatening and commanding.  George Woodbridge is also here once again (as he is in many Hammer Horrors) as Old Garnsey; he usually played innkeepers and publicans.  Jennifer Daniel (who was also in KISS OF THE VAMPIRE) is also quite good and likeable as Valeric Spalding; her other memorable horror credit is in the excellent THRILLER witchy episode "SPELL OF EVIL" -- an old favourite.  The Roy Ashton makeup for the Reptile often gets trashed but I find it really good and quite effectively shot; the makeup for The Gorgon wasn't quite so effective (but I'm still fond of it).   Of course, there's the reptilian elephant in the room; that is, how much of an influence (conscious or not) on Ken Russell's LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM.  I mean, that and THE REPTILE make a perfect double feature, don't they?  Alike but not at all alike.  All in all, Hammer's THE REPTILE is a excellent movie. . . . but is it better than THE GORGON after all?  Sorry, Terry, but I can't go along with that.  Despite all it's embarrassment of riches, THE GORGON is still I think a better watch.  The atmosphere of dread and spookiness is non-stop in THE GORGON but it only comes and goes in THE REPTILE.  John Gilling is a fine director but he's no Terence Fisher (who helmed THE GORGON).  Gilling's direction is more workmanlike while Fisher's is drenched in gothic atmosphere.  The swirling wind and blowing autumn leaves in the moonlight is pure chef's kiss!  Then there's the powerhouse case of Peter Cushing, Barbara Shelley, Christopher Lee and Shakespearean actor Richard Pasco (as well as character actors Michael Goodliffe and Patrick Troughton) which tip the scales towards THE GORGON.  Be that as it may, THE REPTILE is still a fine mid-period Hammer Horror and should not be missed.