Comedy,Horror
United Kingdom
Theatre of Blood is a 1973 horror-comedy film directed by Douglas Hickox, starring Vincent Price as Edward Kendal Sheridan Lionheart, a Shakespearean actor who seeks revenge on the critics who overlooked him for a prestigious award.
After failing to win the coveted Critic's Circle Award for Best Actor seven years in a row, Lionheart plots his vengeance by killing each of the critics using methods inspired by Shakespeare's plays. Lionheart fakes his own death and avoids suspicion while he commits his gruesome murders.
As the body count rises, detective Peregrine Devlin (played by Ian Hendry) investigates the killings but fails to identify Lionheart as the perpetrator. Meanwhile, Lionheart's daughter Edwina (Diana Rigg) becomes increasingly disturbed by her father's behavior.
The film features a cast of notable British actors, including Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Jack Hawkins, and Robert Morley, who play the critics targeted by Lionheart. The murders range from stabbing one critic with a spear during a Julius Caesar-themed production to feeding another critic a meal made of his own pet dogs, inspired by Titus Andronicus.
The film was well-received by critics and audiences for its dark humor and Vincent Price's over-the-top performance. Theatre of Blood has since become a cult classic and is regarded as one of Price's best roles.
