Tower of Evil
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Jim O'Connolly (director and writer) |
| Products | Horror film |
Tower of Evil—also released under the titles Horror on Snape Island and Beyond the Fog—is a 1972 British horror film written and directed by Jim O'Connolly, featuring performances by Bryant Haliday and Jill Haworth.
Plot
Upon reaching Snape Island, a vessel’s crew discovers a gruesome scene inside a lighthouse: a male corpse missing a hand and a female body without a head. Further exploration uncovers an additional murder victim alongside Penny, a young woman who, in a state of shock, fatally stabs one of the sailors; the ship’s captain remains unharmed.
During medical evaluation, Penny recounts the arrival of her companions. A group of scientists, intrigued by Snape Island’s rumored gold and Phoenician relics, assembles five men and two women under the leadership of Dr. Simpson. They embark on the Sea Ghost, captained by the surviving sailor.
Once ashore, they observe the striking lack of animal life and suspect another presence on the island. The captain reveals that his brother Saul’s family once lived there. Strange noises prompt the group to split up. Dr. Simpson investigates their boat only to find it destroyed. Nora, one of the women, is pursued by a bearded deranged man and later faints after encountering a decaying corpse.
The captain identifies the body as his sister-in-law and confirms that Saul resides in caves beneath the house. The team decides to search for Saul in pairs while Nora and Rose remain indoors. Saul attacks Rose and kills scientist Dan before being fatally shot by the others.
Dr. Simpson discloses previous visits to the island during which he left supplies. The captain stays with Rose while the rest retrieve their boat and artifacts. Subsequently, the captain dies after mentioning Saul’s son Michael, who then assaults Rose. In self-defense, she sets Michael ablaze, causing an explosion that destroys both the house and caves. Rose manages to escape as survivors watch Snape Island engulfed in flames.
Cast
- Bryant Haliday as Evan Brent
- Jill Haworth as Rose Mason
- Anna Palk as Nora Winthrop
- William Lucas as Superintendent Hawk
- Anthony Valentine as Dr. Simpson
- Jack Watson as Hamp Gurney
- Mark Edwards as Adam
- Derek Fowlds as Dan Winthrop
- John Hamill as Gary
- Gary Hamilton as Brom
- Candace Glendenning as Penny Read
- Seretta Wilson as Mae
- Dennis Price as Laurence Bakewell
- George Coulouris as John Gurney
- Robin Askwith as Des
- Frederic Abbott as Saul Gurney
- Mark McBride as Michael Gurney
- Marianne Stone as nurse
Development
Producer Richard Gordon aimed to create a horror feature in England in collaboration with Joe Solomon from Fanfare Films. After meeting George Baxt, Gordon acquired Baxt’s story for Tower of Evil and paid $5,000 for a screenplay delivered six months later. However, Gordon and Solomon found Baxt’s script overly comedic.
Seeking a different approach, Gordon initially approached Sidney Hayers to direct but declined due to Hayers’ adherence to Baxt’s original script. Through Herman Cohen, Gordon was introduced to Jim O'Connolly, who agreed to direct provided the script underwent significant rewriting. O'Connolly’s revisions met with approval from Gordon and Solomon but resulted in Gordon severing ties with Baxt.
Casting
British trade unions resisted the idea of bringing in American actor Bryant Haliday, prompting Gordon to arrange for Lee Patterson as a contingency. Nevertheless, Haliday's involvement was secured by tying his casting to the film's financial backing. James Carreras recommended Mark Edwards after his performance in Blood from the Mummy's Tomb.
Filming
Principal photography took place mainly at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, during 1971, with only a small amount of footage captured on location.
Release
In the United States, the film was distributed under the title Horror on Snape Island.
Box Office
Gordon noted that the movie performed "very well" in the UK market. When re-released in 1981, it achieved a position within the top 10 at the US box office.
Critical reaction
The Monthly Film Bulletin characterized the film as a predictable horror aimed at younger audiences, prioritizing nudity and violence over suspense, accompanied by unpersuasive dialogue and acting.
Numerous reviewers categorized it as mere exploitation material. Renowned critic Leonard Maltin assigned it a "BOMB" rating, referring to it as "One of the Horrors of Snape Island."
Despite this, it has developed a cult following among horror enthusiasts over time. The Terror Trap review commended it as "a surprisingly skillful British slasher" and labeled it a "hidden gem." In 1999, Elite Entertainment issued Tower of Evil on DVD. On 12 December 2008, Turner Classic Movies showcased the film during their late-night TCM Underground programming.