From the Golden Age of American International Pictures, THE SCREAMING SKULL seems to be one of those movies fans of 50's horror either love or hate. The plot concerns a young woman recently released from a mental institution and beginning her new life as a blushing bride. Unfortunately, she's being plagued by spectral manifestations of the ghost of her new husband's former wife -including a human skull that doggedly refuses to leave her alone! Peggy Webber is our star, and she was newly with child during the filming. This gave her a more voluptuous form which director Alex Nicol exploited by showcasing her in a nightgown clingy in the right places and sheer in others. He also back-lit Peggy so her legs would show through the long fabric, something she was unaware of and somewhat upset to see in the finished film! John Hudson, twin brother of William Hudson, plays the husband. Director Nicol pulls double duty as the child-like gardener, Mickey. With a cast of about six people and a large, empty estate as the setting, the film holds together better than one might expect. It's nothing overly spectacular, but it is effective in a late-night, turn-off-the-lights sort of way. I am loath to reveal too much of the plot, which has a few twists newcomers to the film might not expect. AIP sold the film with a gimmick that if you died of fright while viewing the film, the studio would pay for your funeral arrangements! William Castle used the same gag for MACABRE. After falling into the public domain, THE SCREAMING SKULL is available from numerous cheapo video and disk distributors. Unfortunately, this means a lot of beat up prints in circulation. Even my copy is missing some footage!
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