Nathan Schiff

A demented magician seeks a new assistant in this gruesome tale of magic and mutilation. Part of BFI collection "The Erotic Films of Peter de Rome."

Stanley Blindon fantasizes about beautiful woman, but none can compare to his wife Claudia. He is completely obsessed with her. Returning from a trip to Boston, Blindon unexpectedly finds Claudia in bed with another man. Running wildly through the streets, he suddenly turns into a werewolf. He seeks psychiatric help, but the psychiatrist, Dr. Caligari does little to change the situation. Seeking revenge on Claudia, once again transforms into a werewolf. Bursting into her bedroom, he discovers her in bed with Caligari. Machete in hand, the werewolf decapitates Claudia. Caligari escapes, but the werewolf gives chase. When the two fight, Caligari gains the upper hand by producing a pistol. Suddenly, a bright light flashes...

Joe Marzano adapted Edgar Allan Poe's famed short story more than once. After The Tell-Tale Heart (1958), he returned to the pages of Poe 28 years later for this remake: As in Poe's original 1843 story, a murderer (Marzano) buries a body beneath the floor of his room and thinks the heartbeats of his victim can be heard while the police are investigating. After he confesses, the sound is revealed to be the ticking of the victim's watch. In 1989, Marzano shot new scenes to increase the running time of this 1986 interpretation.