My take: The plot makes this film one worth watching. Necrophilia is not so common, even amongst horror films.
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
According to Studies in Terror, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock shared its billing with The Awful Dr. Orlaf. I did not enjoy The Awful Dr. Orlaf, so I had my hopes low for this one. I was pleasantly surprised, however.
The most interesting aspect of The Horrible Dr. Hichcock is the plot. It’s about Dr. Hichcock, an anesthesiologist who also happens to be a necrophiliac. Lucky for him, his wife plays along and allows him to drug her so he can have his way. But one night he miscalculates the drugs and she overdoses.
Dr. Hichcock flees his home, unable to live around the things that remind him of his dead wife (you would think he would be happy that she is actually dead, but apparently that is not how his fetish works). He returns 12 years later with a new wife, who knows nothing of his strange appetites or his intentions for her.
The new wife is played by Barbara Steele, and it’s the first movie I have seen with her in it. I can now see why she became such a huge name in horror. She is downright interesting to watch with her high cheekbones, ink-black hair, and coal-rimmed eyes. There is something about her demeanor that just fits with the gothic feeling of this film and is utterly relatable.
Barbara Steele looks out the window in fear in The Horrible Dr. Hichcock.
If you like gothic tales, Italian horror or classic horror in general, I would recommend this film. The plot truly pushes the boundaries and keeps you entertained from beginning to end.
I found the movie online at Daily Motion. Here’s the trailer, which doesn’t do it justice:
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