8. Theatre Of Death (1973)
Edward Lionheart believes that he is the best Shakespearian actor of his generation, but in reality he is pure ham personified. Encouraged by his daughter Edwina, he starts to knock off theatre critics who have dared to criticise him. He murders the critics in what are possibly the most inventive and funny ways ever seen in a horror film. The killings are each based upon a different Shakespeare play. For example, a critic chows down unawares on a tasty dinner, not knowing he is eating his pet poodles. This mirrors the ending of Titus Andronicus in which Queen Tamora was offered up her two sons baked in a pie. He has one more critic to dispense of - Peregrine Devlin. Lionheart insists that Devlin awards him the acting accolades he has been missing out on all these years. He devises a torture device to blind Devlin (based on King Lear) but Devlin stands his ground and refuses to award him anything. The police come to investigate and Lionheart sets the place on fire to distract them. Edwina is accidentally killed in the confusion and Lionheart takes her body to the roof, gives a rendition of King Lear's final monologue. The roof caves in and he falls to his death. Vincent Price as Edward Lionheart and Diana Rigg as Edwina his daughter walk off with the acting honours here. The film has been criticised for being too sympathetic towards Price's character - portraying all of the critics (with the exception of Devlin) as a bunch of pretentious, unlikeable buffoons who get what they deserve. Vincent Price considered this as one of his favourite film roles. Price got his ultimate wish in the film - to do Shakespeare (he was a classically trained actor) and although he is hammy, he performs the Shakespearian monologues with relish. The film is both funny and gruesome with enough hilarity for comedy lovers and enough gore and violence for horror hounds. If you ever wanted to see the sight of Vincent Price acting a hairdresser, look no further than this film!