The Ghoul: Tyburn's Terrifier

 I caught The Ghoul the other night.

Made by Tyburn [not to be confused with the much more successful Tigon] it was one of only three films the company released.

The Ghoul [not a word you hear now really] is essentially a slasher film spiced up with Indian Zitars and a large country house. Set in the Charleston age, the protagonists are two young couples from the English elite in a car race to Land's End. Two of them break down, the woman ending up at the hands of John Hurt's mad gamekeeper and then in the clutches of the Peter Cushing's even madder country gent and his Indian housekeeper. There's more madder things yet but I won't spoil it.

John Hurt's cruel gamekeeper is a great performance, as are the two beleaguered ladies. Cushing's performance as the tormented gent is OK, as is his housekeeper, but for me the most interesting character is the posh Army Officer.

Despite being in his civvies he displays all the spit and polish of his class and positively out-poshes everyone on his way to the truth. When pitted against John Hurt's fabulously deranged yokel on the treacherous bog we have the best bit of the film.

Not one of the best horrors you'll ever see but still Tyburn did a decent job, biting at the ankles of the mighty Hammer. I watch the Ghoul at least every other year.

Have you seen the Ghoul?