Search - Mill of the Stone Women on DVD

Atmospheric Italian classic

Dr. Butcher MD | 06/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A classic example of gothic Italian horror from the '60s. This was originally released in 1960, which would prove to be a seminal year for Italian horror. Mario Bava's directorial debut, Black Sunday, was also released this year. Mill Of The Stone Women was directed by Giorgio Ferroni, who would go on to direct one other horror film in 1972, Night Of The Devils. He was more well known for his "peplum" (Italian heroic fantasy movies) and westerns. The story concerns a young researcher named Hans who travels to a remote village (in 1890's era Holland) in search of a strange tourist attraction - The Carousel of Stone Women. The "carousel" is a large mechanical device featuring life-sized moving statues of famous and notorious female historical figures; and the whole attraction is housed within a windmill, owned and operated by an eccentric art professor named Gregorius Wahl. Wahl welcomes the young researcher, giving him a tour of the mill and allowing him access to diagrams of the machine, which his father had built. Wahl gives Hans five days to study the machine, after which time he must leave the mill. It turns out Wahl has a daughter, Elfy, who ends up becoming attached to Hans. Hans realizes Elfy may be mentally disturbed or perhaps something else altogether. I won't go into anymore of the plot for those who haven't seen it, but it's a movie worth seeking out, especially for those who like the atmospheric gothic films of Mario Bava, Riccardo Freda, and Antonio Margheriti. It was shot in Technicolor, and it makes good use of the process with some great visual set pieces."

Great movie, but DVD could be better

Frank Melton | St. Louis | 10/28/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"i have been waiting anxiously to get this - i finally watched it - great movie - very surreal, nightmarish and scary - beautiful women - the movie gets 5 stars - fires on all cylinders - but the disc/dvd could have been better - 2 big problems that take me right out of the joy of watching the movie - first, i like watching it in french with subtitles (because the english dubs are ok but feel very unnatural) - unfortunately the french language audio track will without warnig quit and switch over to the english - usually during a chapter change - second, the picture freezes and stutters for about 2 seconds as chapter 16 quits and chapter 17 starts - the disc looks flawless - no scratches or blemishes - so im left wondering - is this just shoddy work on the pressing end or did i get a lemon? - if i send it back for a replacement will that also be flawed? - has anyone else run into this - i ordered mine from amazon directly - whats the deal?"

The Mill Fits the Bill

J. Bennett | Somewhere in the East | 06/25/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"From the onset you can clearly see that this unheralded and unheard of movie is several cuts above the nomal horror movies Past or Present. Superb acting intilligent plot Great Soundtrack and camera work.This is a must see this film if you enjoy horror check it out."

The mill of old french horror

Michael P. Dobey | colorado springs | 02/04/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I don't need to go over the plot except to say that it is
a descendant of 'the house of wax" , with other elements thrown in
including a mad doctor and a ever dying woman. It's vintage gothic horror and my disc worked fine. The print is pretty good shape with a few defects but not too distracting like many other old movies with truly shoddy prints. This movie is gothic horror all the way and it's atmospheric and has good performances from the cast and features one semi nude scene that was slashed when shown in the U.S. and U.K. but it is here untouched. This is for fans of older slower moving gothic movies with great set pieces like hands coming from the wall and statues everywhere. If you are in the mood for this type of horror film which is still good all these years later then you will enjoy this movie."