Peter Cushing stars as a former priest who harbors a dark and horrible secret in his attic. The locked room serves as a prison cell for his crazed, cannibalistic adult son, who acquired his savage tastes in India during his father's missionary work there. Cushing fears that his son will escape to prey upon the effete guests at his rural English estate during a cross-country auto race.

The photograph of Doctor Lawrence's wife is a photograph of Peter Cushing's own wife. She had died shortly before filming began, and his tears are real.

[after Dr. Lawrence mentions his wife's suicide]


Daphne Welles Hunter:
I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so inquisitive. It must be very painful for you to talk about it.


Dr. Lawrence:
The pain is there, whether I talk about it or not.