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Amazon.com: William Castle's tribute to the gothic horrors of the 1930s is a ghoulish spin on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by way of Eyes Without a Face. The mysterious Baron Sardonicus (Guy Rolfe) lives in a lonely Central European castle, hiding his face behind a mask and his sadism behind aristocratic manners. Neither remains hidden for long as he pressures a London doctor (Ronald Lewis) into working miracles on his hideously disfigured face. Oskar Homolka steals the film as the Baron's loyal, long-suffering servant Krull, who wields surgical knives and slimy leeches in his reign of torture. Castle, less a stylist than a showman, has little feeling for mood but knows how to stage a shock and spring a gimmick, and this film features a doozy: the audience-participation "Punishment Poll," hosted by Castle himself in a clever (if improbable) break before the film's satisfyingly devious finale. --Sean Axmaker Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-05-24
Another Ghoulish Classic from William Castle
I've said before that these great old horror thrillers take me back to fond memories of chill filled Saturday nights from days long past. Mr. Sardonicus is no different. Once again, we're set in 19th century Bavaria, with a cursed Baron, tortured maidens, decaying corpses, and there's of course the moonlit garden of dead trees twisted in menacing atrophy, and for some reason only wolfbane and deadly nightshade will grow... That's brilliant!!!
These old horror flicks are so great--we we're very fortunate as kids to have these to watch every week--FOR FREE!! I'm not that old- when I was watching these, they had already been around for 10 or 12 years.
Anyway, I would tell all you fanatics out there, discover these old classics, they certainly don't make 'em like this anymore!!! Rating: 
Date: 2008-03-08
The Movie Everyone's Smiling About
Mr. Sardonicus is William Castle's turn at a more gothic horror film in the vein of Universal or Hammer. A famous English doctor, Sir Robert, is summoned to "Gorslavia" by a note from his ex love. Upon arrival Sir Robert finds the town lives in fear of Mr. Sardonicus, the very man Sir Robert is there to see. Seems Sir Robert's old flame, Maude, ended up marrying Sardonicus and now lives with him in his castle along with Sardonicus' evil disfigured(is there any other kind?) henchman, Krull. At the castle, Sir Robert witnesses some odd goings on including the maid tortured with leeches and sexy gals showing up and disappearing. Sardonicus roams around in a mask, but eventually lets Sir Robert in on the reason for his summons. Through a desperate yet sacreligious act, he's now cursed with a permanent grin that brings back haunting memories of Jani Lane in the Cherry Pie video. Sardonicus uses Maude as a bargaining chip to get Sir Robert to work his medical magic and cure him. This all leads to the famous "Punishment Poll" that Castle whipped up for the film. It's fun, kooky, silly, and a reminder of just how cool the guy was, and how cool the movie going experience could be back in the day. It may throw off the tone of the film a bit considering the film works rather well playing it straight, but oh, well. Castle was the man. Check it out. Rating:
Date: 2008-02-13
Shock Treatment...
MR. SARDONICUS is another of director William Castle's better efforts. As with his earlier HOMICIDAL, Castle kept the obvious cheeeze to a minimum, offering instead a dark, gothically tinged tale of greed, sadism, and insanity. Guy Rolfe embodies Sardonicus, making his malevolence come alive. We get the definite impression right away, that there's more behind the mask than a mere physical problem. This guy is a truly loathesome individual! The more he talks, the blacker his soul appears. Still, there is a tragic history to this man, a past event so horrible, that all goodness has drained away from him. Sardonicus is a wretched b@$t@rd made that way through his own folly. He's paid quite a high price for his mistakes. I can't say I wouldn't wind up the same way! Although I hope not! MR. SARDONICUS has a nice bleak atmosphere, and presents some rather unsettling images for a 1961 US film. These include -a maid hanging by her thumbs while being threatened with leeches. -a disfigured Sardonicus feasting face-down in / on a bowl of slime. Also, those poor village gals who were rounded up and brought to Mr. S by his henchman, Krull. What was that all about? Some comments made here and there made me wonder if some good old fashioned cannibalism wasn't going on! Some things are hinted at, but never made clear. After all, what is it that ghouls eat? Hmmm. Highly recommended... Rating:
Date: 2008-01-19
so bad it's good!
I had a friend who talked about this moving, so when it came onto DVD, I had to buy it. Glad I did. It's a great Roger Corman type flick by William Castle, that delivers B-level camp on all levels. A doctor is mysteriously summon to a dark castle by former girlfriend. Seems her husband is having a dental problem and needs help. Dark rooms, long looks between former lovers, bizarre king of the castle, terrified servant girls and LEACHES!!!!!!
Get it. Pop the popcorn, turn out the lights and pretend you are the Drive-in.
Rating:
Date: 2007-06-23
Brilliant Film
This movie validates the low budjet horror genre. Featuring the face that terrified kids across the country for the rest of their lives, I find it as creepy and unnerving today as I did when I was eight years old.
Great acting by the main characters make this melodramatic horror film stand out.
Why, you may ask, would I refer to this film as brilliant? As sinister and cold as Mr. Sardonicus is throughout the film, I find myself actually feeling sorry for him at the end. That's a sign of a great performance.
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