The Screaming Skull
| The Screaming Skull | |
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| Directed by | Alex Nicol |
| Produced by |
John Kneubuhl T. Frank Woods John Coots |
| Written by | John Kneubuhl |
| Starring |
John Hudson Peggy Webber Russ Conway |
| Music by | Ernest Gold |
| Cinematography | Floyd Crosby |
| Edited by | Betty J. Lane |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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68 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Screaming Skull is a 1958 American horror film directed by Alex Nicol. The film stars John Hudson, Peggy Webber, Russ Conway, and Nicol. The film focuses on a neurotic woman who believes she is being haunted by the ghost of her new husband's previous wife. The Screaming Skull marked Nicol's directorial debut; he decided to try it because he felt that he was not acting in the roles which he wanted.
The film was shot at the Huntington Hartford Estate in six weeks on a low budget, with each actor being paid $1,000. The film has received negative reception from critics and from Webber herself, though Nicol enjoyed the finished product.
The film was distributed theatrically in 1958 on a double bill with either Earth vs. the Spider or Terror from the Year 5000. Screaming Skull was later mocked in a ninth season episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The film opens with a narrated disclaimer over footage of an opening coffin. The narrator explains that the film's climax is so terrifying that it may kill the viewer, and reassures the audience that if they die of fright while watching the film, they will receive a free burial service, and it closes on the casket which has a card inside reading "Reserved for You."
Newlyweds Jenni (Peggy Webber) and Eric (John Hudson) move into Eric's palatial country home. Jenni is Eric's second wife; his first wife Marion died when she accidentally slipped and hit her head on the edge of a decorative pond on the estate. At the home they meet Eric's friends, the Reverend Snow (Russ Conway) and his wife (Toni Johnson), as well as Mickey (Alex Nicol), the developmentally disabled gardener. Eric privately mentions to the Snows that Jenni spent time in an asylum following the sudden death of both her parents, and Mrs. Snow reveals that Jenni is very wealthy.
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