“The City of the Dead,” also known as “Horror Hotel,” is a 1960 horror film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey. The movie follows a young student named Nan Barlow, who travels to the small town of Whitewood, Massachusetts to research witchcraft for her thesis.
Upon arriving in Whitewood, Nan finds the town to be unsettling and unwelcoming. She checks into the Raven’s Inn, run by the mysterious Mrs. Newless, and begins her research with the help of the local history professor, Alan Driscoll. However, Nan soon discovers that the town has a dark past involving witchcraft and human sacrifice, and that the residents are all part of a coven of witches who worship the devil.
As Nan delves deeper into the town’s history, she becomes the target of the witches’ sinister plot to sacrifice her in a ritual to bring back their deceased leader. With the help of Alan and a local pastor, Richard Cutts, Nan must fight for her life and escape the clutches of the coven before it’s too late.
“The City of the Dead” is a classic horror film known for its atmospheric cinematography, eerie score, and effective use of suspense and terror. The movie is a chilling exploration of witchcraft and the occult, and features a standout performance by Christopher Lee as the sinister Professor Driscoll.
Directors:
John Llewellyn Moxey
Writer:
Milton Subotsky, George Baxt
Stars:
Patricia Jessel, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee
