The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962) – Italian Horror Film Summary and Review

Also known as The Terror of Dr. Hichcock, The Horrible Dr. Hichcock is an Italian horror film with Barbara Steele. The Italian title is L’orribile segreto del Dr. Hichcock, which translates to The Horrible Secret of Dr. Hichcock. Like most films, it’s known by a variety of names.

Set in the late 1800s, much of the film focuses on the activities of Bernard Hichcock, played by Robert Flemyng. He’s a renowned London surgeon who has developed an anaesthetic that makes it possible for him to perform daring surgical procedures and has allowed him to save a lot of lives.

Respectable as he appears to be, Hichcock has a secret life. He’s a necrophiliac who gets his kicks by drugging his wife and making love to her when she is in a death-like state. His wife Margaretha (Maria Teresa Vianello) is a willing participant in Hichcock’s sex games and is happy to lie there waiting for him to slip his hypodermic inside her.

However, as is often the case when playing such dangerous games, one day it goes wrong and he is soon interring Margaretha in the crypt in the grounds of his house. Unable to live with what he has done, Hichcock leaves London and does not return for 12 years.

When he eventually returns, the doctor brings his new wife, Cynthia (Barbara Steele) with him. During the trip to the house, they seem like a happy couple but, this doesn’t last long.

When her husband’s behaviour changes and he starts to grow cold to her, Cynthia puts it down to the house, which still contains portraits of Margaretha and many of her things. More than once, she begs Hichcock to leave the house and take her away, but she is wasting her breath.

To make matters worse, Cynthia keeps catching glimpses of a veiled woman in and around the house and notices the boots she is wearing are the same as those worn by Margaretha in the portrait hung in the parlour.

Several other strange incidents happen as well some of which are so shocking it causes Cynthia to faint.

Old habits die hard and, eventually, Hichcock cannot resist any longer and administers an injection to Cynthia while she is sleeping and then carries her away to play.

Since her arrival at the house, Cynthia has only made one friend, Dr. Kurt Lowe (Silvano Tranquilli), an American physician who works with her husband and is obviously totally infatuated with her. It’s to him Cynthia turns for help when she becomes certain her husband is trying to kill her.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock is a good example of how horror films used to be before special effects and generous helpings of blood and gore started to become the norm. Some people may love it, while others will hate it, finding it a little slow-moving and tame.

Nevertheless, the film has plenty of creepy moments, along with a deliciously dark atmosphere in many of the scenes.