The Italians made many excellent and highly atmospheric Gothic thrillers during the 1960s. "Hyena of London" was produced in 1964, at the peak of the genre's popularity. Like the films of Bava, etc., it benefits from historic European locations, authentic costumes, fine manners and moody scoring.
What prevents this entry from being as popular as say, "Castle of Blood" or "The Whip and the Body" is its script. Though marketed as a thriller most of the film is straight drama, with the macabre scenes confined to the film's beginning and end.
Watching this made me recall "Terror Creatures from the Grave," which originally was the bottom half of a 1965 double feature with "Bloody Pit of Horror." It had much of the same film noir ambiance and class.
"Hyena of London" is definitely not for everyone, but a good bet for fans of '60s Euro-thrillers or Tony Kendall.
What prevents this entry from being as popular as say, "Castle of Blood" or "The Whip and the Body" is its script. Though marketed as a thriller most of the film is straight drama, with the macabre scenes confined to the film's beginning and end.
Watching this made me recall "Terror Creatures from the Grave," which originally was the bottom half of a 1965 double feature with "Bloody Pit of Horror." It had much of the same film noir ambiance and class.
"Hyena of London" is definitely not for everyone, but a good bet for fans of '60s Euro-thrillers or Tony Kendall.
