House Of Mortal Sin [DVD] [2015]

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As the tortured priest, Anthony Sharp brilliantly veers between whining, childish self-pity and stone-faced, stone-hearted bombast, characterising the hypocrisy that Walker sees in the Catholic Church. Happy to leave his mother to the depredations of Sheila Keith's vicious housekeeper, manipulating the young people who come to him for help, and blaming his actions on other people, Meldrum is a monster. The actual murders of the real and imagined heroine's lovers were horrific. The hospital scene where innocence collides with savagery left no doubt that the beast had won out - as he did through to the end. The death of the 'mistaken libertine' in his hospital bed had a sense of future doom.

House of Mortal Sin (1976) | BFI

Superstitionwhich also expresses itself in various forms of divination, magic, sorceryand spiritism. Producer/director Walker and scriptwriter McGillivray make the most of the priestly theme, having Meldrum commit his murders with holy paraphernalia like an especially twisted Avengers villain. The script is full of witty incidents and clever flourishes, and it's a shame that McGillivray's punning working title, Mass Murder, was dropped.

Irreligion which is evidenced: in tempting Godby word or deed; in sacrilege, which profanes sacred persons or sacred things, above all the Eucharist; and in simony, which involves the buying or selling of spiritual things.

Diabolique Magazine Diabolique Magazine

Hence, it is important that every Catholic must know a general list of mortal sins which are the actions he or she, with the help of God’s grace and for love of Him, must avoid. Below you have a list of mortal sins which is of great use for all. But first, it would be useful to recall the following: Walker's technique for developing atmosphere in this movie is the use of dark, downbeat, seemingly claustrophobic locations that contain evil, and attract and trap unknowing victims before going in for the kill (pun intended). This surprised me by its sense of urgency - the writer-director had a point to make and did - with a straight ahead drive, never straying from powering the plot along with extraneous moments. I'd have guessed its running time to be less than 104 minutes.In a rare moment for Walker, he puts atmosphere ahead of everything else in the horror aspect of this production. Along with the sinister Meldrum, (who has more than a little Norman Bates about him) McGillivray also fills the Meldrum's church with a number of shadowy character's who are more than happy to get hold of a razor blade,the moment that they risk being exposed,with Shelia Keith's tremendous,stern performance as Meldrum's aide Miss Brabazon being a particular highlight,as Keith shows Brabazon a deranged,almost totalitarian military general,who is willing to do anything to protect her captain. If there is anything to quibble about it would be the younger priest's believing Father Cutler's every word and hurriedly renouncing the thought of not continuing in Cutler's shoes. But better than having him run to the police accusing Cutler. There is now the implication that evil will grow in his own church garden. House of Mortal Sin", a.k.a. "The Confessional", is a very well made and engrossing picture, telling a story that is certain to push some buttons. Yet, he dares to make Meldrum a more than one dimensional character, one that could even earn some sympathy, despite the basic fact that this guy is a murderer. Of course, Meldrum doesn't quite see himself as the bad guy (although he does feel some guilt, especially after a case of mistaken identity). He naturally believes that he's on the side of Good, and this, coupled with the fact that people give little credence to Jenny's accusations, ensures that Meldrum seems to be untouchable. Walker gives the excellent Sharp and his favorite actress, Sheila Keith (as a nursemaid to Meldrums' bed- ridden mother), some real showcase moments towards the end, and they are riveting. The whole cast is fine, though, with Penhaligon, Stephanie Beacham (as Jenny's sister Vanessa), and Eshley delivering personable performances.

House of Mortal Sin 1975, directed by Pete Walker | Film review

HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN contains the most interesting premise found in a Pete Walker movie - the consequence of using religion to suppress sexual emotion. What I love about Walker's films is their seedy, sordid quality - I don't mean "T&A", but the overall sense of degeneracy and decay. There's no need for supernatural terrors in a Pete Walker film because he shows us that real life is grottier and more horrible than any vampire or ghost. In House of Mortal Sin, Susan Penhaligon's character goes into church in a fit of pique and unwittingly triggers a chain of events that, in a "spiralling descent", destroys not only her life, but the lives of everyone she touches. Her helplessness in the face of others' disbelief, her inability to convince anyone that she's not just an overwrought and silly girl, and the way that the "Establishment" closes ranks to protect its own is plausibly frightening, especially in light of recent revelations about institutionalised abuse routinely covered up by the Church.well-executed and maintains a dark interest throughout, supported by interesting performances (especially Sheila Keith as Meldrum's devoted love)." ~ The Terror Trap [8] Susan Penhaligon gave an equally great performance as the troubled young girl, Jenny. Her fear and torment are conveyed perfectly. In addition, she gives her character a certain level of naiveté that makes both her character more convincing and the viewer sympathetic. direct abortion, willed as an end or as means, as well as cooperation in it. Attached to this sin is the penalty of excommunication because, from the moment of his or her conception, the human being must be absolutely respected and protected in his integrity;