The Ghost (Lo Spettro) (1963) – Italian Horror Film Review

The Ghost, originally titled Lo Spettro, is an Italian horror film starring Barbara Steele, Peter Baldwin, and Elio Jotta. The film is also sometimes distributed under the title Lo Spettro del Dr. Hichcock, a name that suggests the film may be connected to The Horrible Dr. Hichcock, which also stars Barabara Steele. This is not the case.

The Ghost is set in 1910, in Scotland, where Dr. John Hichcock (Elio Jotta) lives in a large house with his wife Margaret (Barbara Steele). Not a well man, Hichcock is confined to a wheelchair, is growing tired of his life and, early on in the film tries more than once to take his own life.

However, his condition may not be irreversible. He has pioneered a new treatment that involves administering first the poison curare followed by the antidote. Hichcock has also become interested in the occult and attends seances conducted by his housekeeper, Catherine (Harriet Medin), who is an accomplished medium.

At first, Hitchcock tries to end his life by refusing to take the antidote to the poison injected into his hand by his friend Dr. Livingstone (Peter Baldwin), who also lives at the house. However, Livingstone manages to force the antidote down his throat.

Shortly after Dr. Livingstone leaves, Catherine returns and, again her husband tries to kill himself, this time with a revolver, which Catherine manages to wrestle from his hand before he can do himself any harm.

However, despite their actions, Catherine and Livingstone do not have the crippled man’s best interests at heart. They are in love and have been seeing each other secretly behind Hichcock’s back.

Catherine is keen to be rid of her husband and pressures her lover to murder him, which he does by administering the poison but not the antidote.

However, the couple’s plans for the future are hindered when they are unable to find the key to the safe that contains most of the doctor’s wealth. There are also indications that Hichcock’s ghost may have come back for revenge.

With elements of a mystery-thriller, The Ghost is a reasonably entertaining film. The dubbed English soundtrack is not perfect but they seldom are.

Certain aspects of the plot are a little predictable but others may take some viewers by surprise. I enjoyed watching The Ghost and especially liked the final scenes and, yes, I admit it, something took me by surprise.

If you like watching old-style gothic horror films or mysteries, there is a good chance you will enjoy The Ghost. The same is true if you are a fan of Barbara Steele films. If neither of these apply, I suggest you just watch the film and see how it goes.