Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Curse of the Crimson Altar Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 20, 2025

Vernon Sewell's "Curse of the Crimson Altar" a.k.a. "The Crimson Cult" (1968) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films. The supplemental feature on the release include audio commentary by critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan; video program with editor Howard Lanning; making of documentary; promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The outsider

Before Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff appear, which is an event that occurs very early into The Crimson Cult, it feels like director Vernon Sewell is preparing to welcome the audience into a frisky mind-bender an Italian director would have loved to direct. Antique dealer Robert Manning (Mark Eden) receives a package with a handwritten note from his brother, Peter (Denys Peek), and shortly after, with help from his secretary, concludes that he has gone missing. Manning then jumps into his car and travels to Greymarsh Village, somewhere in the countryside, where his brother was last seen in a massive mansion.

Before he enters the mansion, the outsider is pranked by several boozed-up partygoers, who are part of a much bigger group that has temporarily transformed the area into a Swinging Sixties playground. Somehow, Manning immediately impresses Eve (Virginia Wetherell), the sizzling-hot niece of the mansion’s owner, Morley (Lee), who welcomes him like a visiting aristocrat and offers him a room. At this point, it very much feels and looks like Manning will enter a long and quite explicit detour, where he will enjoy most of the same thrills the partygoers are, but while in Eve’s company. However, after Manning, Morley, Eve, and Professor John Marsh (Karloff) gather for a nightcap, a very different detour takes place, which forces The Crimson Cult elsewhere.

After enduring an intense nightmare featuring a gorgeous witch (Barbara Steele), Manning begins suspecting that his temporary misery and his brother’s disappearance are somehow related. Following another encounter with the witch, this time far more intense, almost deadly, he accidentally uncovers evidence that his brother has been targeted as well. But when he shares his discovery, the nightmares and the present become one.

The Crimson Cult reportedly has bits of material that comes from H.P. Lovecraft’s story "The Dreams in the Witch House", but identifying them is pointless because neither its narrative nor style are in any way compatible with the famous American writer’s beloved work. In fact, it is very easy to tell that The Crimson Cult was supposed to have a unique British personality, blending contemporary and classic horror aesthetics, garnished with a bold dose of chic Swinging Sixties atmosphere, which, interestingly, not everyone may have understood equally. This is why The Crimson Cult seems like a legitimately different film, and why ultimately it is not.

Indeed, Sewell’s direction easily leaves the impression that The Crimson Cult was a truce between two creative forces that desperately wanted to reshape its identity according to their liking but could not outmaneuver each other to establish their dominance. Because Sewell wanted to please both, he kept shooting contrasting material that only occasionally blended well.

The best of this contrasting material looks like it comes from a psychedelic dream. It is tense and seductive, somewhat kinky and unpredictable. Eden appears appropriately lost in it, plus it has an element of danger that can intrigue an adult viewer’s mind. Unfortunately, there is not enough of it and its management is unconvincing. The remaining material is underwhelming. It treats Lee and Karloff only as attractive decorations, rather than catalysts for the type of quality genre entertainment the two are known for.

Sewell’s director of photography was John Coquillon, who soon after lensed Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and Cross of Iron.

Curse of the Crimson Altar Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Crimson Cult arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

In America, The Crimson Cult made its high-definition debut with this release, produced by Kino Lorber in 2015. I have it in my library, so I did several extensive comparisons.

On this Region-B release, The Crimson Cult looks significantly better. All of its visuals are lusher (with proper gamma levels), boasting better detail and clarity, and with superior density levels. On a large screen, various areas of the film, darker and nicely lit, have superior grain exposure that ensures a noticeably more attractive organic appearance. On some of the comparisons that I did, the gap in quality was pretty substantial. Also, color reproduction is more convincing. All primaries and many supporting nuances are richer and better balanced. (The incorrect gamma levels on the Kino Lorber release are definitely a factor). I think that there is a bit of room for additional improvements, but the overall balance is very good. (There is one area in the very beginning of the film where small instability can be spotted). I would describe image stability is good. However, there are several areas where small shakiness can be noticed. This is not a serious issue, but on a large screen it is something that trained eyes will not miss. There are no large cuts, debris, stains, marks, warped or torn frames to report. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Curse of the Crimson Altar Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I did not encounter any troubling anomalies to report in our review. The upper register is healthy and there are no pops, cracks, or hiss. However, in a few areas, some slight unevenness can be noticed. I am convinced that this is an inherited limitation, though modern digital tools can easily address it. Dynamic intensity is very modest, even during the psychedelic material, where it feels like a lot could have been done to excite.

Curse of the Crimson Altar Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this audio commentary was recorded by critics Kim Newman and Sean Hogan. The commentators rightfully point out that The Crimson Cult hosts quite a bit of psychedelic material but refuses to evolve into a truly different horror film. Also, there are plenty of interesting observations about Mark Eden and his character, and how his performance does not always perfectly into the equally uneven narrative. Also addressed is the evolution of the British horror film.

• On the Cutting Room Floor - in this new program, editor Howard Lanning discusses his work on The Crimson Cult, The Body Stealers, and The Haunted House of Horror, and describes some specific preferences and choices he made to meet expectations. There are some particularly interesting comments about the special effects in key footage from The Body Stealers. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• The Altar of Sacrifice - in this new program, Sean Hogan discusses the appeal of H.P. Lovecraft's work, its treatment and mistreatment by other people, and some of its key themes that have reappeared in various genre films, including The Crimson Cult, which is very loosely based on his story "The Dreams in the Witch House". In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• Creating the Curse of the Crimson Altar - this program takes a closer look at the conception and production history of The Crimson Cult. Included in it are clips from interviews with stars Mark Eden and Virginia Wetherell, editor Howard Lanning, and Tgon actress Annette Whitley, among others. In English, not subtitled. (36 min).

• Trailer One - presented here is a vintage trailer for The Crimson Cult. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Trailer Two - presented here is a vintage trailer for The Crimson Cult. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Stills Gallery - presented here is a collection of promotional stills for The Crimson Cult.

• Booklet - 24-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Andrew Graves and technical credits.

• Cover - a reversible cover with vintage poster art.

Curse of the Crimson Altar Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

After the outsider meets the owner of the mansion, it feels like someone intentionally deflates the rapidly growing psychedelic atmosphere, which is the strongest and most effective magnet in The Crimson Cult. It is unfortunate. The Crimson Cult could have been a very interesting psychedelic horror film, with a bold British personality that probably would have changed several careers for the better. It is not a bad film, but considering the talent that made it, it is impossible to claim that it meets expectations. 88 Films' release offers a nice presentation of it with a good selection of bonus features. If it is on sale, you could consider a purchase. RECOMMENDED to the fans.