HORROR 101 with Dr. AC: HAMMER HORROR: THE GORGON (1964) / THE REPTILE (1966) Round Table!!!

THE GORGON (1964) d. Terence Fisher (UK)
THE REPTILE (1966) d. John Gilling (UK)

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By the mid-1960s, Hammer Studios had exhausted its supply of classic Universal monsters, with vampiric counts, stitched-together reanimated corpses, lycanthropic curses, and bandaged Egyptian shamblers all present and accounted for. In response, the creative teams dug out their tomes of Greek mythology and exotic travel guides to conjure two original monsters, both – coincidentally or not – featuring female creatures levying doom on the locals.

For 1964’s The Gorgon, much ballyhoo surrounded the announcement that director Fisher would be reuniting with his dream team of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee for the first time since 1959’s The Mummy. John Gilling’s script is an intriguing yarn full of the Gothic and melodramatic qualities identified with the studio. With Hammer’s two biggest stars playing against type, and the stunning Barbara Shelley and future Dr. Who Patrick Troughton lending magnificent support throughout, the result is hugely enjoyable for longtime fans

Meanwhile, 1966’s The Reptile sees a deadly epidemic spreading through the remote Cornish village of Clagmoor Heath. After his brother falls prey to the “black death,” Harry Spalding (Ray Barrett) travels with his new wife (Jennifer Daniel) to Clagmoor to investigate his sibling’s mysterious demise. Shot by Gilling on the same sets as his The Plague of the Zombies, this lizardian spin on the classic shape-shifting narrative yields its share of memorable moments, and Hammer mainstay Michael Ripper adds another delightful barkeep role to his impressive resume, though his Tom Bailey is given decidedly more to do here than simply tap the kegs.

The true star of both these features is veteran makeup man Roy Ashton, who turns the cast into monsters and victims with equal flair. For Gorgon, he conjures a writhing nest of vipers atop our titular monster’s deadly countenance while those she gazes upon turn stiff and gray. Reptile sees black-and-green hues discoloring those suffering the lethal bite, with an impressively scaly, befanged creature showing up in the final reel.

For casual Hammer fans who know only the classic Gothic Universal spin-offs and series, The Gorgon and The Reptile reside far below the radar. But those willing to dive deeper will find two satisfying and melancholy melodramas that show off their iconic stars in a different light. Join AC and his awesome panel of guests (Jessica Dwyer, Mike Mayo, Alan Tromp) as they discuss these oft-neglected classics from the Studio That Dripped Blood: Hammer!