Britain’s Hammer Studios are known more for their Dracula and Frankenstein films than anything else, but this of course wasn’t inclusive of all of Hammers films. Between making Dracula (Horror Of Dracula) and returning as the count in Dracula: Prince Of Darkness Christopher Lee starred in The Gorgon, also starring the talents of Peter Cushing.
Period horror films have always been Hammer’s strength and The Gorgon of course falls within the realm of this success. It takes place in a small German village in the nineteenth century.
The Gorgon opens up with a half naked woman being drawn by her significant other. She tells him of her pregnancy and out of worry, runs into the woods. It’s discovered shortly that she’s found dead and the artist is to blame. After the artist is nowhere to be found, the mob searches the woods and finds him hanging from a tree, 15 feet in the air. Court adjourns, and with the artist’s father in attendance, his dead son is said to have murdered the woman and killed himself out of shame. In fact, the local medical doctor, Dr. Malakoff (Peter Cushing) says the corpse had wounds in the skull. However, an earlier shot showed the woman’s corpse being pushed on table, but when the hand of the corpse hits a pipe, her stone fingers crack off and fall to the floor. Although, the fact that she’s stone is omitted from the court, the father of the artist is suspicious and decides to investigate.
He wonders into the forest and finds an old castle where he then sees the Gorgon, or better known here as Megaera, which in turn,causes him to flee the woods. He slowly turns to stone, but before doing so manages to write a letter to his remaining son. His son arrives at the village and shortly comes to know something isn't right. Realizing something is wrong, he contacts the help of Professor Karl Meister (Christopher Lee). When Meister shows up, he begins to stir the town in order to find the truth, however he’s met with resistance by everyone…
The Gorgon works off of mythology based on Medusa, yet throws a twist in the story. The Gorgon strikes only when the moon is full. The shots of Megaera are incredibly lit using shadows to hide her face until the climax of the film. Almost as if the audience is meant to be protected too.
Blending gothic, mystery and horror qualities, The Gorgon is a great films that blends all three genres smoothly and looks great while doing so.
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