Craze

Craze, a 1974 British horror film, delves into the horrific consequences of ancient worship that penetrates the tranquil façade of modern-day London. Directed by Freddie Francis, and featuring notable actors like Jack Palance, Diana Dors, and Julie Ege, the movie uncovers a macabre tale that begins to unspool in a quiet antiques store.

The narrative of Craze centers around charismatic antiques dealer and small-time cult leader Neal Mottram (played by seasoned actor Jack Palance). Underneath the façade of a modest antique dealer, Mottram nurtures a sinister obsession with an African idol called Chuku, believed to be one of the last artifacts in the world related to an ancient deity that brings good luck and prosperity. Palance delivers a peculiar blend of charm, desperation, and menace, embodying a man slowly spiralling into the depths of madness and obsession.

Diana Dors plays the role of Dolly Newman, Mottram's loyal assistant who unwittingly becomes an accomplice in his deranged activities. Dors brings a humanity and sense of confusion to the role, representing a woman trapped between loyalty and horror as she discovers Mottram's dark secret. Other characters around Mottram, such as his girlfriend Velma (played by Julie Ege), reinforce his descent into madness and paranoia.

What starts as ancient superstition soon develops into fervent devotion, drawing Mottram, and those around him, deeper into a foreboding world of dark rituals, human sacrifices, and increasingly bizarre behavior. As the police draw closer to the sinister truth beneath the veneer of the antiques shop, a whirlwind of chaos and horror is unleashed, making London look more like a modern-day playground for ancient evil.

The setting maintains an eerie contrast between the peaceful, everyday life of London and the sinister, ancient worship taking place behind closed doors. The film draws on this contrast to create a disconcerting atmosphere and a sense of foreboding and uncertainty.

Freddie Francis displays an adept handling of the horror genre in Craze. Even as he dwells on the chilling sequences of Mottram's rituals and the human sacrifices, he does it in a way that highlights the psychological aspects of horror, rather than resorting solely to explicit graphic violence. There's also a focus on the deepening madness within Mottram and the unraveling of the reality around him.

Craze combines elements of psychological horror with the gore more commonly associated with the horror films of the seventies. The film has its fair share of ghastly proceedings sprinkled with a dash of dark humour, keeping the audience off-balance and intrigued. The suspense gradually builds as Mottram's frantic acts of devotion intensify, plunging him, and those entangled in his life, into a disturbing labyrinth of madness and horror.

The film features solid performances by the cast, set against the backdrop of a creepily effective score and moody cinematography that plays on the stark contrast between the mundane picturesque streets of London and the grotesque nature of the protagonist's dark deeds.

Craze is a notch above many of its contemporaries in the horror genre. The movie's effectiveness comes from its blend of suspense, gore, black comedy, and psychological horror. It's also anchored by a standout, unhinged performance from Jack Palance, supported ably by the rest of the ensemble, which includes many famous British character actors of the time.

All in all, for those who appreciate a blend of psychological exploration and horror ghoulishness, Craze is a vintage offering from the mid-70s that stands as a notable entry in the realm of British horror cinema. The movie manages to convey a palpable sense of unease and dread, along with a twisted tale of ancient worship in modern London that will grip your attention from start to finish.