the masque of the red death (1964)-review

spoiler-free synopsis:
we all had to read the short story in high school, right?
let me sum it up for you.
rich asshole tries to escape a plague-like sickness that makes you bleed from all of your pores by holing up in his fancy castle and throwing a big party with all his rich asshole friends.

“why should you be afraid to die. your soul has been dead for a long time.”

i wasn’t going to “review” this one.
i don’t think (a lot of) older or seminal horror needs anyone to speak for it.
but there is a great parallel to be drawn from this tale and the pandemic today that i find incredibly poignant.
it captures the essence of the rich/upper-middle class have pressed on and pressed down on the poor or less-than-well-off.
the political commentary on how the almighty dollar and the continuation of “regular life” is more important than caring for your fellow man rings out loud and clear.
while the exploitation of others is shown far more overtly in the film,
the metaphor still stands in the treatment today.
it’s almost as if it’s a common thread that has persisted over the centuries and decades.
how strange. 🤔

a far cry from edgar allen poe’s short story, it takes a really weird detour into satanism.
it’s obvious this film is a product of its time, but that doesn’t make it bad.
the set design/creation, costuming, and makeup are PHENOMENAL.
not to be all boomer about it but….they just don’t make ’em like that anymore.

it’s so interesting to me how works like this (the story and the movie) can stand the test of so much time passing.
i wish everyone would heed its warning.
at the end, when prince prospero pulls off the mask of the red death, it’s his own face he sees.
if that’s not a metaphor for one’s own hubris being their undoing…i don’t know what is.

this is a work of art that understands your anger at the situation we’re all in.
it understands that because a few people can’t (very VERY mildly) sacrifice their own comfort and respect the lives of their fellow humans,
that we all must reap the consequences.
if you are looking to be understood like that and like older movies and/or vincent price, look no further.

3.5/5 scars.

“and darkness and decay and the red death held illimitable dominion over all.”