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I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

1945's "Pillow of Death" marked the last of Universal's six Inner Sanctum mysteries, adding some genuine supernatural elements to its undernourished brew of a script. Lon Chaney again stars, here as wealthy attorney Wayne Fletcher, whose affection for his secretary, Donna Kincaid (Brenda Joyce), has her family in an uproar, since he's still legally married to wife Vivian. The disapproving Kincaid matriarch is Belle (Clara Blandick, "The Wizard of Oz"), who, like Vivian Fletcher, has fallen under the questionable spell of a spiritualist who calls himself (I kid you not) Julian Julian (J. Edward Bromberg). Wayne decides to ask his wife for a divorce, only to return home to a murder scene, Vivian having been smothered to death by pillow (thus the title). Every damn character is so determined to railroad Wayne for the crime, that even a patently phony séance depicts Vivian's spirit accusing him herself. It's this aspect of the film that makes one fervently wish that Chaney will again be innocent of all charges, not one likable character in the entire sour bunch, apart from the old man obsessed with food (naturally, he's the next to go). Even lovely Brenda Joyce (his wife in "Strange Confession") doesn't escape intact, winding up in the arms of the juvenile trespassing neighbor (Bernard B. Thomas, only seven other credits on his resume), whose obnoxious ego resorts to body snatching in his maniacal effort to win her over (sneaking around at all hours of the night proves him irresistible). This entry's rudimentary police detective is the forgettable Wilton Graff, quite a comedown from character star J. Carrol Naish, from "Calling Dr. Death." One positive aspect of the film, unlike all previous entries, is the (apparently) genuine presence of Vivian's ghost actually communicating with her husband on two occasions, first luring him to the graveyard (her crypt empty), then lending him some help in the climactic clinch (that bedroom door didn't just close by itself!). In the 17 months since beginning the Inner Sanctums, Chaney changed from a still-handsome, believably suave professorial type to a noticeably older frazzle of his former self, the only monster titles done in that same period being "House of Frankenstein" and "The Mummy's Curse." With only "The Daltons Ride Again" and "House of Dracula" still ahead, it's apparent that the actor himself saw the writing on the wall at Universal. Included in the popular SHOCK! package of classic Universals issued to television in the late 50s, "Pillow of Death" appeared twice on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater- Sept 8 1973 (following 1967's "Journey to the Center of Time") and Oct 16 1976 (following Al Adamson's "Blood of Dracula's Castle").

Lon Chaney Jr.(who starred in all six of this series) stars as attorney Wayne Fletcher, whose wife is found murdered. She was into the spiritual realm, and friends with a psychic, who decides to hold a séance in the home of a wealthy believer. Wayne was having an affair with his secretary(played by Brenda Joyce) though insists on his innocence, though when the spirit of his deceased wife accuses him of her murder, it starts off a series of new murders in the household. Who can be responsible? Last in this loosely-linked series is also the least, with an all-too-obvious plot that deteriorates into silliness by the end. Title gives away a key plot point too!

Lon Chaney is suspected of murder when his wife is found dead. It doesn't help any, when it's discovered he's been out with his secretary. This is my first experience with The Inner Sanctum mysteries. In the beginning, I didn't quite know how to take it, seriously or campy. The dialogue and stiff acting by Lon made the film feel amateurish and unintentionally funny. But I have to admit, watching more, I seemed to forget myself and was totally into it. A lot of it was due in part to other actors, adept at what they're doing, like Brenda Joyce, as the secretary, J. Edward Bromberg as a supposed psychic, and Rosalind Ivan as the eccentric housekeeper. Oh, and George Cleveland was especially good as the old man. Even now knowing the twist ending, I would watch it over and enjoy its spirit! So join in the séance and talk to dead people! They help find the murderer in "Pillow of Death."

Reviewers really disagree on the merits of this final Inner Sanctum entry. To me, it's the most fun of the six, although I think the first entry Calling Dr. Death (1943) is the most imaginative and comes closest to what the series was trying to achieve in the realm of psychological horror.What lifts this 60-minutes are several droll performances, a great Gothic set (no doubt left over from an A-production), and a pretty good whodunit that kept me guessing. George Cleveland's crusty old man remains a real hoot, and a role he appears to be really enjoying. Note too cop Winton Graff's subtly droll reactions to Cleveland's scrappy character. Too bad they don't have more scenes together. Then there're the two sourpuss old women. I especially like Rosalind Ivan's ditzy old gal with her subtle tongue-in-cheek. (At the same time, i also can't help noticing the rather woeful Bernard Thomas as the young neighbor, demonstrating again how the war had depleted Hollywood's ranks of young male talent.)And check out that elaborate Gothic set, so richly appointed that it adds needed spooky atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, the lighting bill must have come to all of five dollars. Come to think of it-- I wonder if the cast kept bumping into each other. Also, I certainly didn't anticipate the solution to the whodunit. Cleverly, it doesn't follow stereotype. No, there's nothing memorable here, but this series programmer is more subtly amusing than most and better than the series norm, at least, in my view.