Diary of a Madman (1963)

Based on “La Horla” by Guy de Maupassant, this Reginald Le Borg-directed film starts at the funeral of Simon Cordier (Vincent Price), who had been possessed by one of the horla, a race of evil monsters who exist only to make humans go nuts.

Trying to find a hobby after thinking that a prisoner has infected him with a horla, Cordier got into sculpting and fell in love with the already married Odette Mallotte DuClasse (Nancy Kovack, The Silencers). The horla makes him believe that she’s merely after him for his money, so he cuts her head off and tosses it in a river. When it’s found, her husband is executed for the crime, but Simon knows he has to get rid of the creature. So he does what any of us would — he sets his whole house on fire and dies along with it.

This was written by Robert E. Kent, who would make Twice-Told Tales with Price the same year.

Obviously, Ozzy Osbourne has seen this movie.

bandsaboutmovies's avatar
We've bought so many movies that this is the only way that we can justify buying more. Stay tuned for our podcast and to read all we have to say.
Back To Top

Discover more from B&S About Movies

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading