DVD review
Directed by Sidney Hayers
Starring Anton Diffring, Erika Remberg, Donald Pleasence
Release date 25 June 2007

A plastic surgeon flees from England after an operation goes horribly wrong. He takes refuge in a French circus and restores a number of disfigured women to their former beauty – but, when the ladies refuse the good doctor’s advances, they begin to die in freak “accidents”…

1960’s Circus of Horror is well-made by journeyman director Hayers (also responsible for Night of the Eagle) but lacks any real scares or surprises. However, the movie’s use of vivid coloured sets and costumes is garish enough to make your eyes bleed and character actor Diffring is at his villainous best in the lead role.

All the same, the circus setting is never put to especially good use and the deaths are far too predictable. It is also hard to feel sorry for the victims when they all appear to have undergone a lobotomy. Certainly, when one character dies after getting drunk and dancing with a disgruntled grizzly bear it is difficult not to laugh.

Still, if anything, Circus of Horrors does remind us that the old “throw knives at the woman and accidentally-on-purpose hit her” act is a fine way to get away with murder.

The DVD comes with a solitary trailer. Calum Waddell

VERDICT: 5/10
Pretty to look at but also dated and dumb.