Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 4. 21st March 1973
Ghoulishness
Ghoulishness
'The Murder at the Rue Morgue' is not much fun, but it is one of the best horror films to come our way for a long time. Following Edgar Allen Poe's tale of the same name very closely, it has a polished precision and sufficient understanding of the mechanics behind successful horror to place it far above its many rivals that have appeared here recently. There is real intrigue, real suspense, and real ghoulishness at hand, all of it is photographed very well, and the direction is sustained from the outset by the genuinely frantic pace. With seasoned performers in the starring roles the film has certain winners going for it — Jason Robards, Herbert Lorn and Alfredo Celi swirl their capes and twirl their moustaches with a panache one does not find in the hordes of television has-beens to be found roaming the sets of most horror films. Admittedly, the whole affair is taken a little too seriously, and some of the fantasy sequences are unduly self-conscious, but this does little to impair the total effect which is both bemusing and frequently inspiring. The most edifying aspect of the film, however is its American origin. High camp horror has been a traditionally weak spot in the American movie industry: should this be an indication of a new acquired understanding of the genre, then the thought of the doubtless innumerable successors is not so daunting. This is a splendid little film.