HORROR HOSPITAL (1973) – Episode 163 – Decades Of Horror 1970s

“I can’t work with animals anymore! I must have humans!” Damn the ethical principles of human experimentation! They’re such a bother. Join your faithful Grue Crew – Doc Rotten, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they witness the shenanigans going on in Horror Hospital (1973).

Decades of Horror 1970s
Episode 163 – Horror Hospital (1973)

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Two British companions who met on a train heading to the rural countryside stay with a bizarre host of characters in a secluded, curious mansion. Unknown to them, there is a sinister secret behind closed doors.

IMDb

 

• Director: Antony Balch
• Writers: Antony Balch, Alan Watson
• Selected Cast:
  • Michael Gough – Dr. Christian Storm
  • Robin Askwith – Jason Jones
  • Vanessa Shaw – Judy Peters
  • Ellen Pollock – Aunt Harris
  • Dennis Price – Mr. Pollack
  • Skip Martin – Frederick
  • Kurt Christian – Abraham Warren
  • Barbara Wendy – Millie
  • Kenneth Benda – Carter

Horror Hospital is Doc’s pick and it proves to be so much better than he remembers. Of course, it’s not a good movie, but it is kind of great. There’s a crazy aunt, Frederick’s antics, biker henchmen, and victims right and left. What he can’t figure out, is why this film seems to be forgotten?

Despite his low expectations, Bill enjoyed every minute of Horror Hospital, calling it a crazy, nutty, hoot. Bill has an affection for good-looking, low-budget, British movies and has enjoyed many of producer Richard Gordon’s other movies. Horror Hospital scores on both counts and though it’s not a good movie, it is an enjoyable movie. Chad’s first impression is, “What the hell is going on around here?” The film’s craziness turns out to be a good crazy as he enjoys Horror Hospital’s generous helpings of humor and weirdness, amplified by the performances of Michael Gough and Skip Martin. Jeff also had a blast watching it, loving Michael Gough’s performance as well and, oh, those beheadings.

If you haven’t experienced the cheesy fun of Horror Hospital, the 70s Grue-Crew wonders what you’re waiting for? At the time of this writing, Horror Hospital is available to stream with ads from Tubi and PlutoTV or PPV from Amazon. The film is available on physical media as a DVD from DigiComTV and as an import Blu-ray from Odeon.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1970s is part of the Decades of Horror two-week rotation with The Classic Era and the 1980s. In two weeks, the next episode in their very flexible schedule, chosen by Jeff, will be Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973). Oh, Jeff.

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