Horror Hospital
Elite Entertainment
DVD, 91 mins., 1973, 1:85

review by Shade Rupe

Anthony Balch�s Horror Hospital is a far cry from the experimental work he conducted with William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin, but shows a wild sense of humor that quite possibly was influenced by the famous literary cut-up artists. And that term cut-up definitely refers the to zany antics of Michael Gough and friends as they enact their plan to 'cure' the young people of early ‘70s England of their hang-ups, by frying their brains and turning them into gape-mouthed zombified guinea pigs.

Michael Gough's role as Dr. Storm is especially fun, considering his part in Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow. Along with his half-sized henchman, Gough's buggy is equipped with a long blade and basket on the side to behead any escapees from his hospital of horror. These are the ghastliest moments in the film. Most of Horror Hospital concerns young Jason (Robin Askwith) and his new friend Judy wanting a vacation, but finding themselves with much harder work than expected, especially after Jason had left due to pressures from a diabolical rock band taking over his stage, including one Simon Lust in the Mystic Rock Band, as it's listed in the end credits.

Judy's Aunt Harris is married to Dr. Storm and although she had not returned Judy's letters, hoping the girl would not come, she now finds herself lording over her niece's actions, preparing the same fate as the other young hipsters populating the creepy mansion.

For some reason, all the zombified folk at the castle don�t' faze the young couple and they spend a fair amount of time in physical embrace. Other guests do sense trouble and are quickly dispensed with either by Dr. Storm's killer buggy or by the Biker Boys, cop-looking brutes who bludgeon the guests bloody.

Horror Hospital captures a period of British horror we may not see again for some time. The early '70s films were offering gore for filmgoers of the time, and Horror Hospital tosses in a few decapitated heads and bandaged mind-controlled youngsters for good measure. Not a great film by any means, but filled with tons of fun bits of gore and teenage vagabonds.

The DVD offers the widescreen version of the film, and is quite obviously missing its original credits. For some reason a 'trailer' of sorts has been cobbled together from video-generated titles and one quick shot of a skinned man grabbing a cane to beat a victim, but it really isn't even worth clicking into. Looking at the great lurid DVD box is more worthwhile for the anticipation of fun '70s British horror just an open/close door click away.

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