DKosty123 This was originally intended as a pilot for a series. It even ends with a teaser for the next episode. It rises above average TV as it has a lot of good acting in the cast. Patrick O'Neal is in top form as the slasher/murderer. This is a full 9 years before he would be a sinister husband of robots in the Stepford Wives, but this role proves he could bring off sinister roles very well.Wilfred Hyde-White brings off his role as a criminologist very well and his presence beings a respect to the proceedings. For a television production, this has a large cast with the lovely Laura Devon as the main accomplice for O'Neal. She looks great including a still rare shot at this time period for television of her lovely backside walking away from the camera.(Fully Dressed of Course).The plot is predictable but gruesome as a condemned man tries to avenge his enemies. Still the setting of the House of Wax (sort of borrowed from 2 earlier movies) works quite well. The premise of this would still work today as a series with the right cast. Amazingly most of this cast is no longer around.Hy Averback, a veteran TV director is the reason it plays so well. Several members of the cast including Wayne Rogers worked with him often and that might be one of the reasons this one works so well.The special effects are done slickly and cheaply which is not unusual during 1960's television because at this same time the Star Trek production crew was dumpster diving at Desilu to create the sets for that series. The period sets here are impressive though they existed and were used in other series such as The Wild Wild West.

Lee Eisenberg "Chamber of Horrors" is one those obscure movies, probably available only at Portland video/DVD store Movie Madness. It portrays serial killer Jason Cravette (Patrick O'Neal) on his way to jail when he has to cut off his hand to escape. So, he returns to Baltimore and resumes his murders.Yes, the plot is pretty routine, but this movie is unique. The star is Cesare Danova, better known as Mayor Carmine DePasto in "Animal House". Does that give the movie a feeling of silliness? Maybe, but the movie mostly feels very neat. Also, the judge is played by Vinton Hayworth, aka Gen. Schaeffer on "I Dream of Jeannie". So Bluto Blutarsky and Jeannie are linked by a hook-handed maniac! Go figure! But overall, this movie is a real treat. Fans of 1960s camp will surely love it. And it might just save your life one day...A murder mystery in Baltimore. I try to imagine if one or both of Baltimore's two famous sons (by whom I mean Barry Levinson and John Waters) had directed this movie. Hmmm...

dphelan-1 Since they had to use the Fear Flasher and the Horror Horn to sell this failed TV pilot, one might make the incorrect assumption that this is a bad film. In fact, it is excellent within its limitations. Patrick O'Neal is superb as Jason - suave, cunning, a devil with the ladies, cruel and absolutely insane. His story is told in a very interesting fragmented style. We know little about him when he is first arrested but as Draco and his associates track him down we learn much. The subject matter and milieu are a bit seamy for television which is why this was released theatrically at first. I never saw it there though I passed a theater where it was playing. For years I had seen it only in black and white. Recently I saw a color TV print and it looks great. O"Neal is a wonderful Vincent Price stand-in with Cesare Danova, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Phillip Bourneuf,Jeanette Nolan and Jose Rene Ruiz ( as Tun Tun) doing great work. Laura Devon has the best line. As she tries to clumsily describe Jason she suddenly bursts out " What am I thinking ? He is the easiest man in the world to identify. He only has one hand!"

Clarence Abernathy Expecting a low-grade and low budget chiller (you know: good ol' Tony Curtis has a cameo in it...), knowing that it was originally made for TV, and having seen vintage ads of it, announcing gimmicks like the "fear flasher" and the "horror horn" to protect rabbit-hearted viewers from being shocked without warning, this one's a real surprise to watch. Sure, the gimmicks are quite ridiculous, but the rest of the movie -and that is quite a lot- provides tense and moody atmosphere, above average camerawork, gorgeous colour compositions and probably the most gripping performance Mr. Patrick O'Neal -as the demented killer- has ever delivered (well, sure, there have not been many...). It's great fun watching him do scary things with his special wooden hand stump, fitted with a variety of hooks, knives and cleavers. This almost forgotten pic can easily compete with the quality of the Vincent Price Classic "House of Wax" and it's a winner - especially considering the fun factor. The whole thing looks a bit like as if William Castle would have produced and re-edited a classic hammer movie directed by -say- Jacques Tourneur (forgive me, Jacques). Great fun to watch.