#5 - The Premature Burial (1962)
(dir. Roger Corman)
This film is based loosely on the Edgar Allen Poe story of the same name - much of the plot has been invented, but the basic idea is the same. Guy Carrell is terrified of being buried alive after it seemingly happened to his father, who was prone to bouts of catalepsy. Guy's fear is so strong that he builds an elaborate tomb filled with methods to escape or survive, in the event that he finds himself in the same situation. This obsession consumes his life and leads to a strained relationship with his friends and wife, and he begins to believe that his worst nightmare may come true.
Roger Corman directed a series of eight Poe adaptations for American International Pictures in the '60s, often referred to as the "Corman-Poe cycle", and with the exception of this one they all starred Vincent Price. Period pieces with excellent acting, lavish sets and costumes, and some great creepy atmosphere, they make up some of the best horror films of that decade, eclipsed only by what Hammer was doing in England. Ray Milland is a fine actor, but he's no substitute for Vincent Price, and that is probably the biggest thing holding this film back.
Still, this is a good movie that fans of classic horror would enjoy. If you haven't seen any of the Corman-Poe films, you'd be better served with The Masque of the Red Death or House of Usher, but if you've seen those and are looking for a slightly deeper cut, check this one out.
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