Sign In / Sign Up

Rasputin: The Mad Monk

Rasputin: The Mad Monk
Release date: 1966-03-06
Rating: 5.9
Votes: 84
Genres: Horror
Rasputin, a crazed and debauched monk wreaks havoc at the local inn one night, chopping off the hand of one of the drinkers. As the bitter locals plan their revenge, the evil Rasputin works his power over the beautiful women who serve at the Tsar's palace. Even the Tsarina herself is seduced by his evil ways and, as his influence begins to dominate government policy, there is only one course of action left... to destroy him before he destroys them all.

Reviews

John Chard

John Chard

I offer him sins worth forgiving! 1966 was a prolific year for Hammer Films, the company would have 6 films released this year, unsurprisingly the quality of such was variable. Rasputin the Mad Monk was filmed back to back with Dracula Prince of Darkness, yet even though the BBFC afforded it the "X" certificate, it's somewhat tame and more a historical drama than horror film. In truth it's Christopher Lee as the title character who keeps this from plunging the depths of stinkerville, and this in spite of sporting a most distracting and ridiculous beard. Plot simply - and fancifully - shows Rasputin as a hard drinking, womanising bully with a penchant for hypnotism, all of which he uses for his nefarious ends. It's all very colourful, with Lee holding court as male saps and beautiful dames (Barbara Shelley oh my eye!) come and go, which all builds to a furious finale in the Hammer Films tradition. Yet the slow pace, weakness of the story and the overt feeling of watching a rush job, stops this from being anything but a Hammer time waster. 6/10

Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Holy man or unholy devil’s child?**_ A mysterious licentious monk named Grigori Rasputin (Christopher Lee) emerges from western Siberia with powers of healing and hypnosis. He worms his way into favor with the imperial family in prerevolutionary Saint Petersburg, in particular Alexandra (Renée Asherson), but his negative influence and debaucheries prompt conservative opponents to action. The cast is rounded out by Barbara Shelley, Richard Pasco and Francis Matthews. "Rasputin: The Mad Monk” (1966) is a Hammer historical drama/thriller with a bit o’ horror. It’s not a detailed real-life account, but offers the gist of the story in an entertaining manner, which inspires viewers to look up the actual history. Christopher Lee is outstanding as the eponymous character, both commanding and convincing. Meanwhile Shelley is a highlight on the feminine front. Rasputin was assassinated in late, 1916. It is said that his corruption of the government was responsible for the rising discontent of Russians, leading to the October revolution the next year and downfall of the monarchy. The movie runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot at Bray Studios, just west of London. GRADE: B/B-

Movie Recommendation

  • Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
    Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
    1965-02-23
    Five strangers board a train and are joined by a mysterious fortune teller who offers to read their Tarot cards. Five separate stories unfold: An architect returns to his ancestoral home to find a werewolf out for revenge; a doctor discovers his new wife is a vampire; a huge plant takes over a house; a musician gets involved with voodoo; an art critic is pursued by a disembodied hand.
    More...
  • Straight Time
    Straight Time
    1978-03-18
    After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer.
    More...
  • The House That Dripped Blood
    The House That Dripped Blood
    1971-02-22
    A Scotland Yard investigator looks into four mysterious cases involving an unoccupied house.
    More...
  • Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
    Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
    1971-06-16
    Two Egyptologists, Professor Fuchs and Corbeck, are instrumental in unleashing unmitigated horror by bringing back to England the mummified body of Tara, the Egyptian Queen of Darkness. Fuchs’s daughter becomes involved in a series of macabre and terrifying incidents, powerless against the forces of darkness, directed by Corbeck, that are taking possession of her body and soul to fulfill the ancient prophesy that Queen Tara will be resurrected to continue her reign of unspeakable evil.
    More...
  • Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
    Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter
    1974-04-07
    When several young girls are found dead, left hideously aged and void of blood, Dr. Marcus suspects vampirism. He enlists the help of the Vampire Hunter. Mysterious and powerful, Kronos has dedicated his life to destroying the evil pestilence. Once a victim of its diabolical depravity, he knows the vampire's strengths and weaknesses as well as the extreme dangers attached to confronting the potent forces of darkness.
    More...
  • Bushwhacked
    Bushwhacked
    1995-08-04
    A inept courier realises he has been used by criminals to deliver money. On the run from both the criminals and police, he poses as a Scout leader and leads a scout group on a hike through the mountains.
    More...
  • The History of the Devil
    The History of the Devil
    2008-05-08
    The History of the Devil charts the evolution the idea of a supreme embodiment of evil from the time of the ancient gods to the present day. This critical analysis provides insightful and structured analysis of the origins of Devil and the way in which it has been used over the centuries.
    More...
  • The Viking Queen
    The Viking Queen
    1967-03-25
    Set in ancient Britain, at a time when much of Europe was ruled with harsh tyranny by Rome, a tribe of Britons led by Selina, set out to defy the invaders and discard their yoke of bondage. The Roman commander, Justinian, is sent to quell the uprising, punishing the dissenters with brute force but when he becomes emotionally attached to Selina, he is torn between his duty to Rome and his love for the Viking Queen.
    More...
  • The Unnaturals
    The Unnaturals
    1969-05-30
    During a thunderstorm, a group of members of London's high society seek refuge in a remote mansion in the countryside. They are received by Uriat and his mother, who appears to be able to communicate with the dead. The guests engage in a séance, but it will reveal each and everyone's darkest secrets.
    More...
  • The 15:17 to Paris
    The 15:17 to Paris
    2018-02-07
    On Aug. 21, 2015, the world watches in stunned silence as the media reports a thwarted terrorist attack on a train that's bound for Paris -- an attempt prevented by three young Americans traveling together through Europe. The heroic and courageous actions of Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos and Spencer Stone help to save the lives of more than 500 passengers on board.
    More...
  • Rebecca
    Rebecca
    1940-03-23
    Story of a young woman who marries a fascinating widower only to find out that she must live in the shadow of his former wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years earlier. The young wife must come to grips with the terrible secret of her handsome, cold husband, Max De Winter. She must also deal with the jealous, obsessed Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, who will not accept her as the mistress of the house.
    More...
  • Freaky
    Freaky
    2020-11-12
    A mystical, ancient dagger causes a notorious serial killer to magically switch bodies with a 17-year-old girl.
    More...
  • The Intouchables
    The Intouchables
    2011-11-02
    A true story of two men who should never have met – a quadriplegic aristocrat who was injured in a paragliding accident and a young man from the projects.
    More...
  • Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
    Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
    1989-03-09
    Our favourite police men are called together to deal with a gang who rob banks and jewelers. Using their various talents as well as their extraordinary luck, the crooks stand no chance against our men and women in blue.
    More...
  • Big Trouble in Little China
    Big Trouble in Little China
    1986-05-30
    Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's green-eyed fiancée is kidnapped by henchmen of the sorcerer Lo Pan, who must marry a girl with green eyes in order to return to the human realm.
    More...
  • Bronco Billy
    Bronco Billy
    1980-06-11
    An idealistic, modern-day cowboy struggles to keep his Wild West show afloat in the face of hard luck and waning interest.
    More...
  • Shanghai Knights
    Shanghai Knights
    2003-02-06
    When a Chinese rebel murders Chon's estranged father and escapes to England, Chon and Roy make their way to London with revenge on their minds.
    More...
  • Carrie
    Carrie
    1976-11-03
    Withdrawn and sensitive teen Carrie White faces taunting from classmates at school and abuse from her fanatically pious mother. When strange occurrences start happening around Carrie, she begins to suspect that she has supernatural powers.
    More...
  • The Abyss
    The Abyss
    1989-08-09
    A civilian oil rig crew is recruited to conduct a search and rescue effort when a nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks. One diver soon finds himself on a spectacular odyssey 25,000 feet below the ocean's surface where he confronts a mysterious force that has the power to change the world or destroy it.
    More...
  • Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
    Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans
    1927-11-04
    A married farmer falls under the spell of a slatternly woman from the city, who tries to convince him to drown his wife.
    More...

Similar Movies