Starring - Boris Karloff (Frankenstein, The Mummy), Anna Lee (Glitter, Picture Mommy Dead), and Billy House (Touch of Evil, The Egg and I)
Release Date - 1946
Genre - Horror/Thriller
Tagline - "Sensational secrets of infamous mad-house exposed"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)
Rating (out of 5):
In the early 30s Boris Karloff was one of the hottest names in cinema thanks to his work with Universal. His name sold tickets and once Universal had milked him for what he was worth he found himself landing roles in other productions. From the mid-40s through the 50s he was in several genre productions with his name plastered across the posters but his role in the film was merely a glorified cameo. Don't get me wrong, there was several films during this time where he was given substantial screen time but for the most part he was there to sell tickets and nothing else. Bedlam is one of the few films during this time where Karloff was given an actual character to portray and wasn't just another cash grab. I had seen this film several years before during a Halloween horror binge and remembered liking so when Warner Bros. announced it on blu with The Ghost Ship I was looking forward to revisit it.
The film follows Nell (Lee) who finds herself in a living hell when she undermines the head of the local asylum. He is trying to secure more funding for his institution which is known for hosting events where the elite watch the mentally disturbed for entertainment. He uses his power and influence to get her committed in order to get his way but eventually the tides are turned and he gets a taste of his own medicine.
Bedlam, much like Children of the Damned, is a horror film that is scarier in theory than the movie itself is. It doesn't feel right calling the movie a horror film. Sure, the theme behind the film is very horrifying but the film itself is more like a dark thriller. The movie does make the user rely on their imagination. Regardless, I enjoy this one but I don't feel like it's a horror film in a traditional sense. The acting in this one is great. Karloff is so fucking entertaining as hell as the head of the asylum that is as charming as he is manipulative. I know he is more recognizable from other films but this is probably my favorite performance from him. The supporting cast is just as enjoyable but it's Karloff's character that stands out throughout the film. The story for this one is fucking frightening when you think about how common of an occurrence it was during this period. Women were often placed in asylums for so many different reasons from serious mental issues, to domestic disputes, and even their menstrual cycles. Thinking about how horrible asylums of this time were I couldn't imagine the real life horror they faced. Turning that into a horror film is a fantastic idea but in Bedlam's case it flows more like a drama with a little splash of horror here and there. The pacing is great and the scenes flow very well. I know it sounds like I'm bitching about this one but I really enjoyed it so much. Finally, the film has gorgeous sets and costumes but don't expect to see blood or gore. If you go into a film from this time you wouldn't expect to find gore or blood. Overall, Bedlam is a fantastic film. Karloff absolutely nails his performance and I enjoyed the story. I highly recommend it and it's the highlight of this double feature release.
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