Buzz
William Castle was the undisputed master of low-budget, B-movie horror! His inventive gimmicks were iconic, blending camp, terror, humor, and shock. Castle's films were a thrilling experience, filled with stunts and surprises that kept audiences coming back for more. While not as famous today as he once was in the late '50s and '60s, his legacy is undeniably unique. His tricks included fake screamers during screenings, nurses on standby for 'Death by Fright,' and the frequent sight of an ambulance parked outside the theater. His reputation as the 'master of ballyhoo' was well earned!
10. Bug 1975
Plot: A massive earthquake unleashes a horde of cockroaches capable of starting fires. A scientist (Bradford Dillman) experiments with them, leading to the creation of intelligent, flying superbugs! Produced by William Castle, but not directed by him.
Gimmick: A life insurance policy worth a million dollars was taken out on 'Hercules,' the cockroach. Try not to flinch when the gigantic cockroach crawls across the young girl’s face!
9. Rosemary’s Baby 1968
Plot: Rosemary (Mia Farrow) finds herself pregnant with the Antichrist (hope I didn't spoil the plot for anyone). William Castle produced this chilling classic.
Gimmick: In a tense scene, Rosemary (Mia Farrow) is in a phone booth, terrified that the man standing near her is the sinister Dr. Sapirstein (Ralph Bellamy). But as he turns around, it’s none other than WILLIAM CASTLE himself! A masterful surprise. Well done, Mr. Castle.
8. I Saw What You Did 1965
Plot: Two teenagers make the mistake of pranking the wrong man when they tell Steve Marak (John Ireland), 'I saw what you did and I know who you are.' Marak, who has recently murdered his wife (Joyce Meadows), goes on a hunt to find and silence the girls.
Gimmick: The film featured 'Shock Sections,' where seat belts were installed to keep audience members firmly in their seats. Don't forget to check out the trailer below!
7. 13 Ghosts 1960
Plot: A house is left to Cyrus (Charles Herbert), the nephew of the mysterious Dr. Zorba, an occultist. The house holds 12 ghosts—will you be the 13th?
Gimmick: The film used a unique 'Illusion-O' technique, where viewers were given 'Supernatural Viewers'—a blue and red cellophane frame. Looking through the red filter revealed the ghosts, while the blue filter made them disappear from the screen. Watch the trailer presented by the master of horror, William Castle:
6. Strait-Jacket 1964
Plot: Lucy (Joan Crawford) spends two agonizing decades in a psychiatric facility after being convicted of ax-murdering her husband and his lover. Upon her release, ax-murders begin to occur once again.
Gimmick: 'Strait-Jacket had the biggest gimmick of them all – Joan Crawford,' according to John Waters. Technically, the gimmick was plastic bloody axes given to the audience, but let’s be honest—the real draw was Joan Crawford, riding high off her role in *What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?* If you watch the clip, you’ll catch all the gimmicks in action (Crawford, Crawford again, and an ax). Pure movie magic.
Note: Don’t forget to spot the Pepsi-Cola product placement, delivered by none other than the company’s favorite star, Joan Crawford.
5. Homicidal 1961
Plot: Miriam and her brother Warren stand to inherit a fortune. Warren shares his life with Helga, a mute woman confined to a wheelchair, who is cared for by Emily. As the story unfolds, murder and mystery grip their lives.
Gimmick: The Fright Break! This special intermission gave audience members the option to leave the theater and claim a full refund if they couldn't stomach the terror! Those who took advantage were handed a 'Coward’s Certificate.' Watch the Fright Break here:
Note: Time magazine stated that *Homicidal* 'surpasses Psycho' in terms of suspense.
4. Macabre 1958
Plot: A physician's daughter is abducted and buried alive. Her father must race against time to rescue her before the air supply runs out.
Gimmick: A $1,000 Fright Insurance Policy, courtesy of Lloyd’s of London. Every audience member would sign the policy to ensure their financial protection in case they died from sheer FRIGHT during the movie! This marked Castle's first promotional stunt, kicking off his iconic gimmick-filled career.
3. Mr. Sardonicus 1961
Plot: The enigmatic Mr. Sardonicus (Guy Rolfe) calls upon Dr. Cargrave (Ronald Lewis) to help restore his grotesquely twisted face.
Gimmick: The genius William Castle gave the audience the power to decide Mr. Sardonicus's fate with glow-in-the-dark 'punishment poll' cards. Thumbs up meant a happy ending for the wicked Mr. Sardonicus, while thumbs down sealed his grim fate. There’s speculation that no 'mercy' ending was ever actually filmed, making the 'Punishment Poll' a clever ruse to attract moviegoers. Watch the Punishment Poll speech by the master himself, William Castle.
2. The House on Haunted Hill 1959
Plot: Five individuals are invited to a Haunted House with the promise of $10,000 if they can endure the entire night.
Gimmick: Are you prepared for Emergo?! During a key moment of the film, a plastic skeleton floats across the audience! Watch the trailer here:
1. The Tingler 1959
Plot: Dr. Chapin (Vincent Price) discovers that the eerie tingling sensation people feel in their spines when frightened is caused by the 'Tingler,' a deadly parasite that can only be stopped if you scream for your life!
Gimmick: To add an extra layer of terror, William Castle introduced Percepto! Special seats were equipped with electric buzzers that shocked the audience during the spine-chilling moments. Watch the unforgettable scene when the Tingler escapes into the audience and reaches the projectionist!
Note: *Gremlins 2* famously recreated the moment when the screen goes white, and the Gremlins begin creating shadow puppets.
