This documentary is obviously about filmmaker William Castle, a director known for the hokey horror films that he made in the late 50’s and early 60’s, which always came with a gimmick to them to entice the audience to see them. For example, buzzing seats, skeletons that would fly over the filmgoer’s head, and “ghost finders” were just some of the things that he came up with that made a William Castle film not just a movie, but an event.
As a documentary, “Spine Tingler” is just a pass and would probably work better as an extra feature on a dvd rather than a film in its own right, however the character that William Castle was and the life that he led, was so much fun that you cannot help but love him and by extension this makes it so easy to sit back and enjoy the documentary. There are tons of interviews which help to create a picture of what the man was really like from Castle’s own daughter, to Joe Dante and the always hilarious John Waters, highlighting in such a positive way the greatness of Castle’s career. When he passed away, the “showman” died with him as no-one makes films these days they way that he did.
3 Stars - Viewed at the Melbourne International Film Festival
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