The Gorgon
The Gorgon

The Gorgon

1964
Movie
83 min
English

In the early 20th century a village experienced a series of inexplicable murders. All the victims were young men who had been turned to stone. The perpetrator of these deaths was a being so repulsive that she transformed the onlooker using the power of her deadly stare. Much of the time the creature took the form of a beautiful and seductive woman, but during periods of the full moon she becomes a living horror, vicious and deadly. A professor has come to investigate the deaths, bringing with him his beautiful assistant whose knowledge of the Gorgon is more intimate than anyone would ever realise.

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Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes50%
Director: Terence FisherGenres: Horror, Mystery

Plot Summary

In the remote village of von Essen, a series of gruesome deaths are attributed to a monstrous Gorgon. Professor Campsall and his assistant investigate, suspecting a supernatural cause linked to an ancient Greek legend. As more villagers fall victim, the investigators race against time to uncover the truth behind the murders and stop the creature before it claims more lives.

Critical Reception

The Gorgon is a classic Hammer Horror film that, while not among the studio's most acclaimed, is appreciated for its atmospheric tension and strong performances from its lead actors. It received a mixed to positive reception upon release, with some critics praising its Gothic mood and others finding its plot somewhat predictable.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its atmospheric direction and Gothic setting.
  • Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing deliver strong, albeit brief, performances.
  • Some found the plot to be derivative of earlier monster films.

Google audience: Audience reception for The Gorgon is generally moderate, with many viewers enjoying its classic Hammer horror elements and the presence of its iconic stars. Some find it less impactful than other films from the era, but it remains a notable entry in the genre.

Fun Fact

The film's titular Gorgon is actually played by a woman in a mask and costume, rather than a special effect, a common practice for creature effects in Hammer Horror films of the era.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Medusa’s sister is loose in post-Victorian Germany!*** The spirit of one of the three Gorgon sisters from Greek mythology is terrorizing a German village in the early 1900s. A doctor (Peter Cushing) seems to be in denial about the sup...
John Chard

John Chard

One of Terence Fisher's most undervalued films. "Overshadowing the village of Vandorf stands the Castle Borski. From the turn of the century a monster from an ancient age of history came to live here. No living thing survived and the spe...