A demented art dealer and antique shop owner performs nightly rituals in honour of the African god Chuku, whom he believes will reward him with unimaginable wealth and power if he merely offers human sacrifice.
Acting
Palance's sweaty, bug-eyed commitment to utter nonsense
Practical Effects
Chuku the god: a gloriously cheap stone head prop
Direction
Freddie Francis slumming it with surprising visual flair
Director
Freddie Francis
Jack Palance
Neal Mottram
Diana Dors
Dolly Newman
Julie Ege
Helena
Edith Evans
Aunt Louise
Hugh Griffith
Solicitor
Trevor Howard
Supt. Bellamy
Michael Jayston
Detective Sgt. Wall
Suzy Kendall
Sally
Martin Potter
Ronnie
Percy Herbert
Detective Constable Russet
David Warbeck
Detective Wilson
Kathleen Byron
Muriel Sharp
Marianne Stone
Jane - Barmaid
Dean Harris
Ronnie's Friend
Anthony Chinn
Customer (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Freddie Francis won two Oscars for cinematography before descending into British horror schlock; this was his 'pay the bills' era.
Part of a 1970s wave of British occult films exploiting 'voodoo' as exotic threat, reflecting post-colonial anxiety and racial unease.
GB
