12/16/00 by Nate Yapp

Director William Castle sure knows how to make the gimmick film. Nobody else quite gets the art of audience participation like him. The Tingler is yet another in a long line of films (including The House on Haunted Hill and Mr. Sardonicus) to put some part of the movie in the theater seats. This time, all they ask you to do is open your lips and scream for your life!

The story involves Dr. Warren Chapin (Vincent Price), a pathologist studying the effects of fear. He has a theory that there may be a physical entity in the body that appears and wrecks havoc with a person's spinal cord when they are frightened, one that is only stopped when the victim screams. To prove this, he takes extreme measures, many unethical, and quite a few downright dangerous. Some of his discoveries come by way of the deaf-mute owner of a silent movie theater, and Warren's own wife.

The acting is fine, the direction is among Castle's best, and the script is semi-brilliant for the time. However, these are not what makes the film extremely notable. First is the scene where Price pleads with the audience (yes, you watching the movie) to scream in order to paralyze the Tingler, who has escaped and is, presumably, making its way right toward your seat. During the theatrical run of this film, some seats were wired to give a minor electrical shock to select patrons. Secondly, this is the first movie to ever depict an LSD trip. Price partakes to test his own reactions to fear, and ends up buggin' out due to the acid. From what I've heard about the drug from friends, it seems like an accurate portrayal.

Of course, Vincent Price fans want to see Vincent Price... that's the only reason why they watch some films (even going so far as the horrifyingly bad kid's film Mooch Goes to Hollywood). Well, good news folks! Price is in top form, and even though he is a cold, calculating scientist, he gets to do a little "sinister," the thing that he does the best. We even get some "jealous" thrown in for good measure.

There's a lot of fun to be had with an William Castle film. They're cheesy, tongue-in-cheek, and they generally provide a good time for all. In fact, when the BFI asked film directors Stuart Gordon and John Waters to name their top 10 films of all time, The Tingler made both of their lists. And why not? This film is a great example of Castle's showman spirit -- in fact, it may be the perfect example. Check it out today, but be warned; if you have any doubts to this review's accuracy, I urge you, the next time you're scared (and it could be in this film)... don't scream!