THE CREEPING FLESH

UK, 1973, 94 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Lorna Heilbron, Kenneth J. Warren.
Directed by Freddie Francis.

The Creeping Flesh is one of the many horror films starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing who made their names in this genre with the Hammer Horror films, especially the Dracula and Frankenstein series.

This film is about evil and ethics, the attempt to eradicate evil which seems to come in human blood. On this premise, the film builds a horror story about bones brought from Papua- New Guinea which, when exposed, become monstrous and infect other people. The scientist finds that his daughter is infected and tries to save her.
Conventional and unconventional material, done with style by the stars and by director, Freddie Francis, an Oscar-winning cinematographer for such films as Sons and Lovers.

1. This film in the tradition of English horror films? Atmosphere, conventions, the stars? The appeal to the audience in plot, treatment, atmosphere of horror, exploration of evil? A successful horror film?

2. The importance of the philosophical implications of the film, the discovery of the evil principle, the incarnation and spread of the evil principle? Evil being let loose on the world and its consequences? The implications of scientists arrogating to themselves the right to control evil, to play God? Were these themes well blended into the horror conventions?

3. The linking of madness with horror? Men living in a world of reality and unreality? The plausibility of the plot, the credibility of the characters? Horror stories an contrived symbols of what is basically real?

4. The significance and emphasis of the title? Its reference to the New Guinea Man? Its reference to Penelope?

5. The importance of the settings, 19th century England, the brooding atmosphere and the mad characters within this? The detailed portrayal of house, dark countryside, asylum? The attention to detail in the grounds, within the house, Penelope's marionettes etc.? The details of the asylum?

6. The Importance of the structure and paralleling of the two brothers and their work? Who was good who was evil? A strange family? One brother seen within the family circle, the other within the world of the asylum? The comparison with their work? The contrasting motivations? The converging interests towards the New Guinea Man and the evil? The research and the evil taking control of them? Their playing God?

7. Emmanuel as the sympathetic character, his attitude towards science, towards his daughter? His playing God and going beyond what he should have done? The effect on his daughter, the effect on him? The irony and pathos of his final imprisonment and inability to communicate the truth?

8. The contract with James as the evil brother? Did he in any way seem good? Jealousy, the bizarre details of his work in the asylum? The elaborate stealing of the creeping flesh? The irony of his win and destruction?

9. The ambiguity of Penelope as heroine? The influence of her father and mother? A heroine in a British home? Her part in the restoration of the New Guinea Man, the finger, her being involved an the creeping flesh, madness? Her final victimization? The breaking of audience expectations about a heroine?

10. The importance of the past, memories?

11. The New Guinea Man: was he plausible, the effect on bringing him to England? The effect? The incorporation of evil?

12. The confrontation with James, Emmanuel and his daughter's disappearance and the irony of the ending?

13. The contribution of the minor characters, especially the police with an atmosphere of reality and commonsense investigation, the servants in the house, visitors? The creation of a realistic atmosphere for these symbolic horrors?

14. The horror story and insight into the darker side of human nature?