In 1963, director Jacques Tourneur, known for his masterful work in horror classics like Cat People and I Walked with a Zombie, ventured into the realm of macabre comedy with Comedy of Terrors. With a stellar cast featuring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Joyce Jameson, Joe E. Brown, Beverly Powers, and Basil Rathbone, the film had all the ingredients for a standout success. Despite these great collaborators, the results were mixed, serving up a middle-of-the-road affair.

Tourneur’s direction is one of the film’s highlights. His ability to blend horror and comedy is evident throughout, as he deftly balances the eerie atmosphere with moments of dark humor. The film’s Gothic aesthetic, combined with Tourneur’s knack for creating suspense, provides a visually engaging experience. However, even his expertise couldn’t entirely elevate the uneven script.

The cast is undoubtedly the film’s strongest asset. Vincent Price, in particular, shines as the unscrupulous undertaker Waldo Trumbull. His performance is delightfully over-the-top, capturing the character’s malevolence and wit with equal flair. Peter Lorre, as the downtrodden assistant Felix Gillie, complements Price perfectly, bringing a touch of pathos to the comedic duo.

Boris Karloff, as the senile Amos Hinchley, provides a charming performance that showcases his versatility beyond the typical horror roles he’s known for. Basil Rathbone, playing the perpetually “dying” Mr. Black, adds a layer of sophistication and humor, particularly with his repeated recitations of Shakespearean lines. Joyce Jameson, Joe E. Brown, and Beverly Powers round out the cast, each delivering solid performances that contribute to the film’s quirky charm.

Despite the impressive cast and Tourneur’s direction, Comedy of Terrors struggles with an inconsistent tone and pacing. The script, while filled with witty dialogue and humorous situations, sometimes feels disjointed, leading to a film that doesn’t quite know whether it wants to lean more into horror or comedy. This indecisiveness hampers the overall impact, resulting in a film that feels middling rather than memorable.

The macabre humor, while effective in parts, doesn’t always hit the mark. Some jokes land perfectly, eliciting genuine laughs, while others fall flat, leaving a sense of missed potential. The film’s structure, relying heavily on repetitive gags, can become tiresome, diluting the effectiveness of the comedy.

In retrospect, Comedy of Terrors is a film that showcases the immense talent of its cast and director but ultimately delivers mixed results. The collaboration of such legendary figures in the horror and comedy genres should have resulted in a classic, yet the film remains a curious blend of brilliance and mediocrity. It’s a testament to the performers’ skills that even in a middle-of-the-road affair, their charisma and talent shine through.

For fans of the genre and the actors involved, Comedy of Terrors offers enough moments of enjoyment to warrant a viewing. It stands as a fascinating, if flawed, entry in the filmographies of those who worked on it, providing a glimpse of what could have been a standout macabre comedy with a bit more refinement.

• Saul Muerte