Watch The City of the Dead

The City of the Dead is a 1960 horror movie directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, starring Patricia Jessel, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee and Tom Naylor. The movie is centered around a small town in Massachusetts called Whitewood. The town is known for its gruesome history of witchcraft and burning of witches. The story opens with a young college student, Nan Barlow (played by Venetia Stevenson), who is interested in doing a research paper on witchcraft. After being advised by her professor to go to Whitewood to conduct her research, Nan sets out to travel to the small town. She soon discovers that the town is eerie and deserted, and the locals are unfriendly and unhelpful.

Nan stays at the Raven's Inn, a run-down hotel owned by Mrs. Newless (Jessel), a mysterious and sinister woman who seems to have a personal vendetta against Nan. The inn is the only place to stay in the town, and it is immediately apparent to Nan that something is not quite right there.

Nan is introduced to a couple of locals who try to help her with her research, but it doesn’t take long before people start to die in a series of bizarre and unusual ways. As she digs deeper into the town's dark history, she becomes increasingly convinced that Whitewood is haunted by the witches who were burned at the stake centuries before.

The movie is filled with suspense and genuinely creepy moments, and the oppressive atmosphere of the town is successfully conveyed through the use of dark lighting and eerie sound effects. Patricia Jessel gives a standout performance as Mrs. Newless, exuding a chilling and malevolent presence that seems to permeate the entire movie.

In The City of the Dead, the viewer is presented with a satisfyingly eerie and scary world full of witches, demons, and supernatural elements. The movie is richly atmospheric, filled with creepy and chilling scenes, a strong cast, and an interesting storyline that manages to keep the audience's attention throughout.

Furthermore, the film's setting is a crucial component of its mood, with the small town of Whitewood serving as a foreboding, oppressive environment that conveys the sense that danger is lurking around every corner. The use of dark and ominous music also contributes significantly to the feeling of unease that permeates the entire film.

While The City of the Dead is now considered a cult classic in the horror genre, it initially received mixed reviews when it was released. However, the movie's haunting imagery and strong performances from the cast have stood the test of time, and it remains a compelling and horror movie that will leave viewers feeling genuinely unsettled.

In conclusion, The City of the Dead is a horror classic that has stood the test of time. The movie successfully creates an atmospheric and eerie world that is full of supernatural elements, and the cast turns in strong performances. While the film wasn't initially well-received, it has rightfully gained cult status among horror fans and remains a must-see for anyone looking for a genuinely creepy experience.

The City of the Dead is a 1962 mystery with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.