A captain and his sailors investigate the rampaging "Marsh Phantoms" terrorizing a coastal town, but their search is hindered by a local reverend and a horrifying curse.
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Wuchak
7
By Wuchak
**_Mysterious adventure at a marsh village on the coast of England in the late 1700s_**
A group of naval militants are sent by the Royal Crown to investigate rumors of smuggling at a coastal town in 1792, where whisperings of spooky “marsh phantoms” abound. Patrick Allen plays the humorless commanding officer of the King’s men while Peter Cushing stars as the genial pastor of the village.
“Night Creatures” (1962) is an obscure Hammer production originally called “Captain Clegg” based on the first book in Russell Thorndike's Doctor Syn series – “A Tale of Romney Marsh," which was published in 1915. The title “Night Creatures” is a misnomer while “Captain Clegg” doesn’t work for reason I can’t explain. The working title “The Curse of Captain Clegg” would’ve been more fitting.
In any case, this is an 18th century costume melodrama with skullduggery and quite a bit of action, plus some spooky bits. The presence of Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain naturally bring to mind “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961) and this is cut from the same cloth, just minus the lycanthrope trappings. “Witchfinder General” (1968), aka “The Conqueror Worm,” is very comparable. “Black Death” (2010) was no doubt inspired by it, especially the mysterious marsh sequences.
Reed was in his prime and the stunning Yvonne Romain has a more significant role than “Curse of the Werewolf.” Meanwhile Cushing was at the top of his game as the interesting protagonist.
The movie runs 1 hour, 22 minutes, and was shot in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire, England, both just west of London.
GRADE: B
CinemaSerf
7
By CinemaSerf
Peter Cushing is super as "Dr. Blyss" in this period mystery as the erudite and charming vicar by day, but the leader of a gang of smugglers by night. "Captain Collier" Patrick Allen is sent to investigate these illegal goings on with a troop of soldiers, and they engage in a enjoyable cat-and-mouse game as Allen tries to discover the leader of the smugglers, and also to lay to rest the myth about "Captain Clegg" - a nefarious pirate reputedly hanged at Tyburn years earlier. It's got a cracking supporting cast - Michael Ripper, Oliver Reed, Martin Benson with Derek Francis ably playing the bumbling local squire and Yvonne Romain as the "serving wench"; with plenty of colour, humour and adventure - well worth a watch.
