The Haunted Strangler (1958)

Victorian gentleman scholar James Rankin (Boris Karloff) is researching the execution of a murderer some twenty years prior. As he becomes more obsessed, he becomes more convinced that they executed the wrong man. Soon he becomes possessed by the spirit of the Haymarket Strangler.

For Karloff’s transformation, he simply removed his dentures and screwed up his face. That doesn’t sound too dramatic but it was quite effective. See poster. Also, it fit well in the effects budget. Of his 60 or so horror films, I believe I’ve now watched twenty. Top on my list is The Raven (1935), not to be confused with The Raven (1963).

Not too much to say about The Haunted Strangler. It’s mostly a detective story at first, but it throws the viewer a twist or two. Perhaps not among the most memorable Karloff horrors, but it certainly has its place. AMRU 3.5.