Few films embody the phrase “style over substance” quite like The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (1967). Directed by Harald Reinl and loosely inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, this German-Italian co-production takes Poe’s tale of terror and cranks the melodrama up to eleven, delivering a feverishly over-the-top gothic spectacle. While visually striking, the film’s excessive theatrics and lack of narrative depth ultimately keep it from achieving greatness.

The story centres on Count Regula (Christopher Lee), a sadistic nobleman who seeks immortality by performing gruesome experiments on virgins. Executed for his crimes, he rises from the grave decades later to exact revenge and continue his diabolical quest. A lawyer (Lex Barker) and a young woman (Karin Dor) find themselves drawn into his nightmarish world, traversing eerie forests and labyrinthine dungeons to face the undead count.

If nothing else, The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism is a visual feast. The production design is suitably gothic, with crumbling castles, fog-drenched woods, and macabre torture devices that feel ripped from the pages of a penny dreadful. The film’s set pieces are undeniably atmospheric, and there’s a dreamlike quality to the more surreal moments, such as a forest filled with hanging corpses or the titular torture chamber itself.

However, these striking visuals can’t compensate for the film’s lack of substance. The plot is paper-thin and feels more like an excuse to string together elaborate set pieces than a coherent story. The characters are one-dimensional, with Lex Barker’s stoic hero and Karin Dor’s damsel-in-distress offering little to engage the viewer. Even Christopher Lee, despite his commanding presence, is given little to do beyond glowering menacingly.

The film’s melodramatic tone is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. On the one hand, the over-the-top performances and operatic score lend it a certain campy charm. On the other hand, the relentless theatrics often verge on self-parody, undercutting any genuine sense of dread or suspense.

While The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism has its moments—particularly for fans of gothic horror—it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. The film’s dazzling visuals and promise of Poe-inspired chills are undermined by a lacklustre script and an overreliance on melodrama.

For those seeking an over-the-top gothic romp, it’s worth a watch. But for those hoping for a faithful or genuinely chilling adaptation of Poe’s work, this film falls far short of its potential.

• Saul Muerte