Tell-Tale Heart (aka Bucket of Blood) (DVD)

This British obscurity has been a much sought-after horror film by fans for decades. It offers a fairly engaging rendition of the classic Poe story. The acting at times is a bit crude and stilted, but what shines is the use of close-ups to amplify the feelings of brooding horror. There are some great shots throughout the film, especially in the final minutes when it becomes apparent that madness is overwhelming Dryden, who does his melodramatic best as the killer. Kelt, as the old man, sports a pretty scary-looking eye, the grisliness of which is often shown in close-up. It's a pretty grisly moment when he's dug up from under the floorboards! This film was released stateside as Bucket of Blood, and as far as we know this is the first time it's ever been issued in a home video format.

• horror