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ACTOR
Gavin ReedJackie SkarvellisBerwick KalerSusan Heard
DIRECTOR
Andy Milligan
SYNOPSICS
The Body Beneath (1970) is a English movie. Andy Milligan has directed this movie. Gavin Reed,Jackie Skarvellis,Berwick Kaler,Susan Heard are the starring of this movie. It was released in 1970. The Body Beneath (1970) is considered one of the best Horror movie in India and around the world.
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The Body Beneath (1970) Reviews
A "real" movie by Andy Milligan.
An odd one in Milligan's filmography, this was one of the few "real" movies he attempted. By "real" I mean less concerned with stagy, screaming, off-Broadway plots (let's face it, Milligan at his best, at least by the standards of his own movies). This is an eccentric vampire film unlike any other. Very similar to "Guru, the Mad Monk", it is one of the few Milligan films to feature a dominant performance by a lead actor (Gavin Reed, one of the more professional actors Milligan worked with) with no scheming, bitchy females in sight. Not quite as slow as some of Milligan's other British-era films, it moves along at a nice clip, and the final vampire/cannibal feast manages, at moments, to be atmospheric (though the annoying use of inappropriate stock music is a distraction). The internet is interesting, I first saw a Milligan movie when I was 12, "The Rats are Coming, the Werewolves Are Here", and have been, well, interested in Milligan ever since. While I'm sure the recent Millgan biography has introduced more people to him, thanks to the internet I now know that, judging by some of the reactions to his films, there are at least 25 other people on Earth who appreciate Milligan as I do. Kind of neat.
A surprising show of capacities from Mr. Millgan
To say THE BODY BENEATH is a *GOOD* film might be sugaring things a bit heavily, but it certainly stands as one of the more professional achievements put forward by schlock auteur Andy Milligan. The evidence of more technically adept workmanship than in many of his other projects is multi-directional within this eerie little vampire opus, though the the gore is noticeably slight this time around. It's a fairly unembellished bloodsucker story with a few novel twists...a vampire-priest calls a meeting of all existing vampires at his Old England lair. During this meeting, he expresses his concern with the rapidly diminishing numbers of their blood-line, and motions that they move, collectively, to the United States. THE BODY BENEATH looks like a project which Milligan took a bit more seriously than many of his other horror offerings. It's fairly coherent(an amazing achievement for him), and the pacing and exposition actually aren't miles away from the accepted norm. Is this merely a film which denotes the natural progress of it's maker? Is it a sincere attempt to bring something palatable to mainstream horror film fans? Is it a sellout? ...I dunno...all I can say is that it has all the quirky Milligan hallmarks, but it's far removed from the schlock quality of much of his other work. 4/10
"Never cross me again"
A well constructed and quite novel vampire-piece from the late schlock auteur Andy Milligan about an ancient all-English clan of Un-Deads who, true to vampire tradition, feed-off their mortal relations. I understand Milligan based many of his horror films on classic literary works - in this case Stoker's 'Dracula' - hence the real and fictional locations of Highgate Cemetery and 'Carfax Abbey' as well as a trio of vampire gals; whose green make-up looks admittedly silly, but they're used to quite creepy effect. The 16mm hand-held camera also works to the film's advantage (ala 'The Evil Dead'). Acting all-round is extremely decent; especially Gavin Reed in the central role of Reverend Ford - he is every bit the prissy English churchman as scheming master vampire. Highlights include; the first appearance of the vampire gals at Highgate ('Hellooooo'), the not-so-good Reverend's wife Alicia (Susan Heard) plunging her knitting-needles into a maid's eyes, the Ford-clan rising to attend the climactic blood-feast, the film's most-mentioned scene where vampire Elizabeth (Judith Heard) is very vocal in her objection to the Rev's plan to move to the U.S. My personal favourite though, is where hunchback servant Spool (Berwick Kaler) is crucified by the green-faced gals for disobedience to which the vampire Reverend deliciously croons "Never cross me again Spool(!)" Recommeded for all fans of traditional, Gothic vampire thrillers.
One of Andy Milligan's better horror films
Prissy priest Algernon Ford (an effectively smug and sinister portrayal by Gavin Reed) is really a vampire who's organizing a gala annual feast for his fellow bloodsuckers. Assisted by pathetic hunchback Spool (the pitiable Berwick Kaler) and a trio of grotesque green-skinned vampire women, Ford has grisly plans for two of his luckless lady relatives: pregnant Susan (comely Jackie Skarvellis) gets chosen to be a breeder for vampire babies while lovely Candace (ravishing redhead Emma Jones) will be used as a blood donor. Writer/director Andy Milligan, whose movies are usually hopelessly cheap, static and inept, here shows a surprisingly substantial amount of flair and finesse. The rough, grainy, but still fairly polished cinematography in particular is occasionally impressive. The neatly varied score alternates between lush orchestral film library music and wonky, droning, atonal synthesizer noises. The gloomy British countryside adds considerably to the spooky and decadent Gothic atmosphere. The solid acting from the competent cast rates as another sterling asset: Reed truly excels in the lead, with sturdy support from Skarvellis, Kaler, Jones, Richmond Ross as Susan's brave, likable boyfriend Paul Donati, Susan Heard as Algernon's fetching, reticent wife Alicia, Felicity Sentence as brassy maid Jessie, and Judith Head as fiery vampiress Elizabeth. In addition, this film takes some interesting liberties with the standard vampire lore: These bloodsuckers don't have fangs, can walk around in the sunlight, and take regular blood transfusions to keep themselves strong. The climactic vampires' ball is both pleasingly lavish and appropriately gruesome. Nice dark surprise ending, too. A nifty vampire horror picture.
Not the Worst Thing Milligan Made
The Body Beneath (1970) * 1/2 (out of 4) A family of vampires realize that their bloodline is coming to an end so they must try and get new people in so that their family tradition can continue. THE BODY BENEATH is one of five films that director Andy Milligan made in Britian and believe it or not this film has some fans out there. Sadly, I am not one of them as I found this to be yet another extremely boring period piece that just didn't have enough working in it to keep me interested. It's strange but the more Milligan films I see the more of them I don't like but at the same time I find myself becoming a fan. That might sound weird because how can you become a fan by watching bad movies? Perhaps it's the fact that no matter which Milligan movie you're watching you can tell that it's a Milligan picture. I must admit that I somewhat admire the fact that he was making these period looking films on such a small budget. There are all sorts of technical issues with this film and there really aren't any "good" performances. With that said, the film remains mildly entertaining just because of that weird factor that the director always managed to bring to his pictures.