146) Theater of Blood (1973)

"Can I be certain that you will never offend me again?"

Director

Douglas Hickox

Cast

Vincent Price - Edward Lionheart

Diana Rigg - Edwina Lionheart

Michael Hordern - George Maxwell

Dennis Price - Hector Snipe

Arthur Lowe - Horace Sprout

Harry Andrews - Trevor Dickman

Robert Coote - Oliver Larding

Ian Hendry - Peregrine Devlin

Jack Hawkins - Solomon Psaltery

Coral Browne - Chloe Moon

Robert Morley - Meredith Merridew

Milo O'Shea - Inspector Boot

 
I started reviewing horror flicks on this platform back in 2018. Only now do I realize that I haven't reviewed one Vincent Price horror movie. Some horror fan I turned out to be.

I almost reviewed his 1953 classic "House of Wax" but as I didn't finish the film at the time, it didn't get a write-up. So, I need to remedy this, which I'm doing right now.  

There's something truly satisfying at watching Vincent Price act. It seems Price was born for the horror genre. He's one of few actors who not only is superb at his craft. It's evident, too, that Price enjoys each role he's in. At least that's the impression I get. 

So much has been said about him and his horror movie roles. There's really nothing much I could add that hasn't already been said. He's haunting and likeable all at once. 

This is especially true when watching him act out Shakespeare. Seeing him recite lines from Shakespeare plays leaves those lucky to hear him with a feeling of being cultured. For those who haven't yet grasped the know-how of broadening their mind, I recommend starting with watching Vincent Price recite Shakespeare.

I'm not much into old Bill Shakespeare myself. I've read a few of his plays, but only because I was assigned to do so back in high school, and a bit in college. Otherwise, I've never read his works on my own accord. Sorry, Billy. I'm clearly no Shakespeare expert. However, listening to actors, experts, thespians, etc., recite his plays and sonnets, I can't help but catch whiffs of their pretentiousness and self-admiration. To me, it drowns out the emotions and such that Shakespeare wanted to convey. 

Edward Lyonheart (Vincent Price) kills his
critic, Trevor Dickman (Harry Andrews) in "Theater of Blood."

"Theater of Blood" is a golden opportunity for Vincent Price to let his Shakespearean talent shine forth, all while still being the horror icon that he is. 

In this movie, he plays a dejected, humiliated, and disgusted Shakespearean actor named Edward Lionheart. Two years after members of a Theater Critics guild criticize his performances in various plays and choose to award a younger novice actor over him, Lionheart enacts revenge on each of his critics. They mocked and trodden on his genius and talent, after all. 

He begins his killing spree on the Ides of March in true Julius Caesar fashion. 

Lionheart kills each critic, one by one, according to the manner of the Shakespeare play they each lambasted him in. 

Lionheart lures his first victim, George Maxwell (Michael Hordern) to an abandoned warehouse where a group of homeless people attack and kill him similar to Caesar's death in the play "Julius Caesar." 

He later decapitates another critic in his sleep just like Cloton in "Cymbeline."

Before each murder, Lionheart reads them their respective critique of his past performance. And when they die, he recites lines from the play he's reenacting. 

The entire guild thought Lionheart was dead after witnessing him jump off a balcony into the Thames River after he barged in on them while they were holding a get-together in celebration of the same awards ceremony in which they snubbed him. 

What they didn't know is that he survived the fall after a group of "meth drinkers," as the film refers to them, rescued him. 

These vagrants, along with Lionheart's devoted daughter, Edwina (Diana Rigg), aid him in his revenge.

Once investigators, led by Inspector Boot (Milo O' Shea) start putting the pieces behind this string of murders together, Lionheart prepares for his grandest performance. 

Price's Shakespeare is the most convincing recital I've ever heard. I mean that sincerely. 

While the story is half serious and half over-the-top, Price puts a lot of effort, love, and talent into his performance. 

Amidst everything the film offers, it doesn't hold back on the horror. It's effective and truly disturbing as it's supposed to be. 

In one scene, Lionheart dresses as Shylock from "The Merchant of Venice" as he gets revenge on his fourth victim, Trevor Dickman (Harry Andrews). Dickman previously called Lionheart's portrayal of

Diana Rigg, Coral Browne and Vincent Price in "Theater of Blood." 

Shylock "inadequate." 

Just as Shylock sought his pound of flesh as told in Shakespeare's play, so does Lionheart's "inadequate" version of the character hold the steaming (literally) heart, weighing one pound, of Trevor Dickman. He then bows to a non-existing audience within the abandoned theater where he hides out as he hears their applause in his head. 

Price's performance as a conceited character reciting Shakespeare while brooding over old bad reviews, and then take out each of his critics in Shakespearian fashions, has a sense of forbidden pleasure to it. Price has a lot to do in this role. He has to act violent, be compelled by a mixture of pride and humiliation, act comical at times, perform Shakespeare, and be a frightening presence on screen. 

The story drags on a bit as authorities chase Lionheart while he sneaks around in one disguise after another to kill critic after critic, only to burn the abandoned theater down. It's repitious.

Yet, it's comical and truly horrific all at the same time. 

As for the gore, the movie doesn't hold back. 

For me, the most disturbing scene takes place when he attacks his eighth victim, Meredith Merridew (Robert Morley). Lionheart tricks him into eating his own poodles whom he's very attached to. Once Merridew realizes what he's eating, and is appalled at the situation, Lionheart and his crew restrain him and force the meal down his gullet until he chokes and dies, replicating the death of Queen Tamora in "Titus Andronicus." 

The film's stellar cast including Michael Hordern, Milo O' Shea, Robert Morley, Bond girl, Diana Rigg, and Coral Browne whom Price married after the two met on the movie set, compliment his fantastic performance. 

I recognized English actor Michael Hordern from his role as Jacob Marley in the 1951 movie "A Christmas Carol" with Alastair Sim.

I also recognized Robert Morley from his cameo in "The Great Muppet Caper."  

"Theater of Blood" is classic Vincent Price. If I had to pick my top three favorite movies of his, this would be one of them. This is certainly fun to watch.