Watch Edgar Allan Poe's The Oval Portrait

The movie Edgar Allan Poe's The Oval Portrait is a thrilling adaptation of Poe's short story of the same name. Released in 1972 and directed by Roger Corman, the film features a talented cast including Wanda Hendrix, Barry Coe, and Oskar Homolka. The story centers around a young couple, Allan (Barry Coe) and Jean (Wanda Hendrix), who find refuge in an abandoned mansion during a stormy night. The mansion is home to a portrait of a beautiful woman known as the Oval Portrait. Allan becomes fascinated by the portrait and begins to unravel the mystery behind the woman's identity.

As Allan learns more about the portrait, he discovers that it depicts the wife of the mansion's former owner, a painter who was obsessed with capturing his wife's beauty on canvas. The painter's obsession led to his neglect of his wife, who eventually became ill and died from neglect.

The film explores themes of obsession, beauty, and death. The character of Allan becomes increasingly obsessed with the Oval Portrait, much like the painter who created it. The portrait represents an ideal of beauty that is unattainable and ultimately destructive.

The film's stark black and white cinematography adds to the eerie atmosphere of the mansion and the sense of foreboding that permeates the story. The mansion itself is a character in the film, steeped in history and secrets.

The performances of the lead actors are impressive, particularly that of Wanda Hendrix as Jean. Her portrayal of a woman trapped in a twisted love triangle is both vulnerable and complex.

Overall, Edgar Allan Poe's The Oval Portrait is a haunting and atmospheric horror film that delivers on both scares and substance. Its themes of obsession and beauty are still relevant today and make it a timeless classic.