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Gig Young, Carol Lynley, Oliver Reed, Flora Robson, William Devlin ... see more see more... , Bernard Kay , Judith Arthy , Robert Cawdron , Celia Hewitt , Barbara Bel Geddes , Charles Lloyd Pack , Peter Porteous , Anita Anderson , Ingred Bower

Another semi-successful attempt to adapt the works of American fantasist H.P. Lovecraft to the screen, this is loosely based on the short story The Shuttered Room (also an alternate release title for ... read more read more...the film), a story which is purported to be more the work of "posthumous collaborator" August Derleth. The story involves a couple's return to the creepy old ancestral home, located on an island in New England, in which they soon discover the dark secret hidden behind a heavily-locked door in the attic... a door the fearful townsfolk declare "must never be opened." Oliver Reed delivers one of his patented gruff, over-the-top performances as the local nutcase, and director David Greene creates a suitably moody atmosphere, but much like the Roger Corman-produced The Dunwich Horror, this film fails to act on the spooky potential of its theme. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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520 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: David Greene

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DVD Release Date: December 9, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (49)


  • September 28, 2011
    A very boring pseudo-British giallo is the best way to describe The Shuttered Room. There's nothing particularly special about the film whatsoever except its three main leads: Gig Young, the scrumptuous Carol Lynley and the encapsulating Oliver Reed. I found the score in this one... read more to be particularly annoying, as well. It sounds like a jazz band from Hell brought to Hollywood to do a soundtrack. The story itself isn't all that interesting. If Dario Argento had directed Straw Dogs in England, it might have wound up coming off like this. The movie does get Carol Lynley nearly naked, so it does have that going for it. Gig Young is quite funny with his impersonation of James Bond - running around Judo-chopping the town riff raff and driving around in his fancy car. Other than those things, this one isn't all that remarkable or memorable.
  • December 11, 2010
    This is a very disappointing horror movie, it's not even scary and the ending is predictable from the start. None of the actors are very impressive either. Overall, this movie isn't worth seeing.
  • June 8, 2011
    An creepy H.P. Lovecraft adaptation of "The Unnameable." Set in New England, filmed in Ireland, with Oliver Reed, and distinctive music by Basil Kirchin, who scored The Abominable Dr. Phibes.
  • October 27, 2010
    City slickers come to a remote island community (always a bad move) where the wife is meant to iunherit an old disused mill, a place that the local all warn them away from. Oliver Reed is the brutish leader of the gang of local men who do little except roughhouse around like boy... read mores, tormenting the newcomers.

    It builds to a suitably creepy boil, then drives it hoe with some decent reveals of the true threat on the island.

    Worth a rental, give it a look.
  • November 17, 2009
    A major childhood fav that still is creepy today. I had forgotten it was a Lovecraft. Luv Ollie always.
  • February 3, 2009
    This is a movie I saw on TV as a young teenager and it just intrigued me! To me it was a scary, suspenseful, creepy, mystery and I really liked it! I saw it again just a few years ago and it held true...to me it was still thrilling!
  • August 12, 2008
    The only reason I watched this was because my dad saw it as a child and found it very scary. So we watched it together and he like it, but I didn't. There were a couple of creepy moments and it was quite entertaining, but as a film it was horrible. And what was up with the sensua... read morel undertone?
  • January 26, 2008
    Saw this on t.v. back in the early 70's. Carol Lynley is always great to watch. The 'monster' in the movi is an insane aunt. But the thrills are there. Worth watching.

Critic Reviews


Lucius Gore
December 15, 2008
Lucius Gore, ESplatter

Artfully directed, gorgeously photographed, and well acted "The Shuttered Room" finishes with a pretty predictable ending. But the journey there is quite enjoyable. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
November 5, 2008
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Less than good results. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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