The Tingler (1959)

Perfect cast and a good story

Excellent but underrated film

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Generally, I like William Castle films, but this one seems to be a Castle gimmick looking for a plot. It's generally pretty weak on that, even with good performances by Price and Judith Evelyn. I will say Castle did a pretty good job making Price the red herring here, and not completely sympathetic. Other than that, it's a weak entry for him of his earlier work in horror, nowhere near the campiness of House on Haunted Hill, or the bizarre, twisted but fun Homicidal.

I was born and grew up in South Bend, Indiana. I lived first next to the State Theater (still there being preserved) and was the standard Saturday afternoon for all the kids to see usually 2 westerns, maybe 2-3 serials of a science fiction 10-15 part and occasional, a new film concept to compete to the "new rival" television. My best memory was seeing the Tingler. Well, many seats were "wired" to vibrate when "The Tingler" entered "The real theater" seen "in the film" which "was a movie theater" coming through the projection room windows, which in the film went black as "if came out" into the "real world" from the "reel world" so to say. I sat through it twice, so in the second screening was a space where I sat, then an empty chair and then a "black girl" sat at the isle. In those days many kid groups went to this theater and each had "their section" to sit and cheer, etc. So, waiting for the "Tingler" to start "it's tour", in sound and seat locations. I waited for the seat to vibrate under the girl. YES, that "special" moment. WELL, she jumped up out of her seat almost airborne. It was, indeed "A scream" and my best "kid" memory for those special early 50's Saturday movie days, long vanished.I got a 25 cent allowance. It was 14 cents for the film and 10 cents for popcorn. I penny got little. BUT, the manager knew me and often I got in free.That did "a quarter get you" in 1958????? A half dozen freshly baked donuts, warm out of the bakery at the Ten Cent Store across the street. If lucky had the frosting on them and made when you came in. Can no be any fresher. Fondest of many memories. Hope you have many today, with the films now released in many ways. From small screen to 3D IMAX. And FILM "has a different look" that the new DVD projection. And key is those center seats, right in the middle. And with the sometimes NOW 6 channel stereo, and even better as people move across a screen or talk "behind" you. Enjoy.

Vincent Price plays Dr. Warren Chapin, a pathologist that has a strong curiosity concerning fear and the sensation of a tingling spine. He's sort of a "mad scientist" character that is willing to scare himself literally to prove his theory. Using the LSD drug in order to prove that, what he calls, The Tingler exists as a real living creature that lives in all vertebrate life forms. He finds that screaming will save a person's life but if they can't scream The Tingler will emerge. Chapin himself can scream so Martha Higgins' becomes Chapin's prime subject for his research since she is a deaf mute but she has to frightened. Beware of The Tingler.The film is extremely surreal once it gets going, the sudden red color contrasting with the B&W film looks like a dream or should I say nightmare.I'm sure audiences in 1959 screamed, at least some did. The film in today's society may not have you screaming but it does have some eerie moments and it is loads of fun to watch.8/10

The Tingler its directed by William Castle, infamous for his gimmicks on movie theaters, often compared to Hitchcock, but I say that he may be better than Hitchcock.The Tingler has some great acting and a slow pace, but its quite atmospheric, the movie itself its great, it has even some very chilling and suspenseful moments, many people find the tingler to be quite campy, and it is, but I think that's what William Castle wanted,a surreal feeling. The film talks to us about fear, and the monsters it can produce, hate and senseless violence have always come from fear and the movie illustrates that very well.Overall, great acting, directing and writing, definitely recommended for those who are willing to look for more than just a B-movie.