Evil knights rise from their tombs and prey on a group of old friends and a new acquaintances, helped by a professor they must confront the knights and stop their terror once and for all.
Opening with the 13th Century sacrifice of a maiden played by the stunning actress Carmen Yazalde, director, writer Amando de Ossorio offers us the first in the ‘Blind Dead’ series, which was followed by three official sequels: Return of the Blind Dead (1973), The Ghost Galleon (1974) and Night of the Seagulls (1975) respectively. It then moves to present day, shot on the stunning backdrops of locations in Spain and Portugal. Ossorio and cinematographer Pablo Ripoll create some great visuals, including haunting figures on horseback, blood sucking dead, eerie ruins that ooze atmosphere with the aide of Antón García Abril’s score.
The cast notably include César Burner, María Elena Arpón, Lone Fleming and briefly the aforementioned Yazalde. Lacking a big budget it’s not perfect, there’s some lapses in logic, the dubbing is off, the acting is a mixed bag and the gratuitous script comes with sensibilities that are of its time. Sleaziness aside, Amando de Ossorio presents a new mythology and novel ominous zombie monk-like knights. It’s slow burning, with some solid make-up effects, settings and costumes. At times it simplicity is effective and adds to its charm.
Overall, it has effective suspense and unsettling imagery that’ll stay with you, something lacking in many modern horrors. Recommended.
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