FEAR CHAMBER (DVD/WS) DVD

Fear Chamber
A brilliant geologist sends a team to search the depths of the earth in an effort to learn the origin of some strange signals they've been picking up on their equipment. They discover a rock formation with an interior life that can communicate telepathically. They bring the mass to the surface and determine that the entity is "pure crystallized intelligence," and they believe many of the secrets of existence can be answered by studying the stone. However, the only message the mysterious rock is forthcoming with is what kind of food it needs, namely a particular chemical that can only be produced by the bodies of people in the throes of terror. To this end, Dr. Mantel (Boris Karloff) devises something called the Fear Chamber, where kidnapped prostitutes are frightened out of their wits with spiders, snakes, and faked Satanic rituals in order to obtain this precious chemical. Though the scientist and his assistants take pains not to physically harm their subjects, the weird living rock begins growing tentacles and soon learns how to capture its prey and extract the fluids itself, leading to the death of a lady burglar. The scientists realize what a deadly force they've unleashed on the surface world, though efforts to destroy the creature are complicated by its ability to control human minds and generate its own electricity. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide

Cast Boris Karloff as Dr. Carl Mandel Julissa as Corinne Mandel Carlos East as Mark Isela Vega as Helga

Crew Jack Hill - Director Juan Ibaņez - Director Tony Ramirez - Makeup Raul Dominguez - Cinematographer Luis Enrique Vergara - Producer Jack Hill - Screenwriter Luis Enrique Vergara - Screenwriter

Fear Chamber
The wonderful and too frequently misused Boris Karloff died of emphysema soon after shooting his scenes for Fear Chamber. It's unfortunate, but it's probably a better way to go than dying of shame, which he certainly would have had he lived to see how his talents were wasted in the claptrap that is Chamber. Made on a budget that obviously couldn't have been too far north of, say, $1.98, Chamber is simply a dreadful film. Some will find a certain amount of camp fun in the proceedings, hooting at the awful acting of the cast, save for Karloff, who while not giving a great performance, does manage to inject a degree of professionalism that is sorely lacking otherwise. They will also derive some pleasure from groaning at the horrible dialogue, laughing at the lack of a coherent plot and chortling over the extremely cheesy "special" effects. But most viewers won't find much fun in Chamber for very long; it quickly grows tiresome, and the spectacle of a man like Karloff reduced to such dreck becomes painful. Those who really get off on terrible horror films may want to give it a go, but others should let it pass by. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel Additional Features: Audio commentary by writer-producer-director Jack Hill Widescreen presentation (16x9) Newly remixed 5.1 soundtrack Deleted scene DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: NR DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 89 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Fear Chamber 1. It's Alive [8:35] 2. The Chamber [10:07] 3. Feeding The Creature [7:01] 4. It Wants More [5:02] 5. New Applicants [9:58] 6. It Has To Die [6:51] 7. Continuing The Dr's Work [11:21] 8. Diamonds [6:07] 9. He Likes You [9:56] 10. Messages [5:06] 11. More Power [4:21] 12. King of the World [1:23]