MR. SARDONICUS (1961) d. William Castle (USA)
Few filmmakers in American horror are remembered as vividly—or as superficially—as William Castle. Mention his name and most movie fans immediately think of outrageous theatrical gimmicks: skeletons flying over audiences, theater seats rigged with buzzing devices, or insurance policies handed out in the lobby. Those promotional stunts became the stuff of legend, helping turn modestly budgeted thrillers like House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler, and 13 Ghosts into major box-office successes and cementing Castle’s reputation as horror’s greatest showman. But the enduring popularity of those gimmicks has also has had the unfortunate effect of overshadowing the films themselves.
