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Excellent but underrated film

Did you people see the same film I saw?

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Jack Palance plays an antique dealer who dabbles with murder & black magic in 1970's London. There's many familiar faces in the cast here. The film starts & ends, predictably, well but sadly the middle part goes a bit flat. The picture quality wasn't great on my DVD but I think they did the best they could with what print was available.

Even a roll-call of some of the finest talent around in Britain at the period can't save the life of this shoestring horror yarn, done in at the first hurdle thanks to an utterly routine story from Herman Cohen, the guy who once made a highly entertaining brace of movies with Michael Gough earlier in his career. Little entertainment value is on offer here, with some insipid direction from the usually reliable Freddie Francis - who overdoes the close-up lens far too much, it must be said - and rock-bottom production values meaning there is no room for special effects or much in the way of action. Instead, the plot follows a standard murder-mystery template, with the string of murders interspersed with lots of police procedural investigation. Sadly, the investigation is helmed by Detective Wall (Michael Jayston), one of the most miserable, ill-mannered and frankly unlikable characters I've seen in a film, and despite his dogged determination to nail Palance his character is utterly banal and devoid of interest.The one clever aspect of the movie seems to be the infernal idol of the title itself; Palance's theory that sacrifice brings reward is never proved or disproved during the film, leaving a level of ambiguity which is about the film's strongest value. Is Palance's downfall due to the intelligence of the police force, or perhaps because his servant finally took an axe to the idol when he could stand it no longer? CRAZE never makes it clear one way or another. Another strong value is the cast list, with most faces being recognisable to exploitation fans; it's just a shame that most actors and actresses are wasted with poorly-written parts. Take for instance Martin Potter, who excelled as a baddie in SATAN'S SLAVE; here his foppish, bland shop assistant is totally unmemorable in every way.Palance himself overacts with relish, hamming his way through a role which gives him plenty of scope to enjoy himself. Francis seems obsessed with sticking the camera in his gurning face and Palance can't play a scene without his character smirking to himself with pride for getting away with the crimes. I do enjoy overacting here and there, but the incessant nature of Palance's performance does eventually become a bit wearing. Even once-great Trevor Howard (PERSECUTION) turns up wasted as the superintendent, whilst there are only tiny bit parts for Percy Herbert and later Euro-stalwart David Warbeck.The only halfway decent performance is a comedy one from Hugh Griffith (LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF) as a greedy solicitor. As for the female talent, there are plenty of pretty faces around - Julie Ege and Suzy Kendall to name but two - but again they play only one-dimensional victims. The biggest insult is the character of Diana Dors, an ageing sex-starved housewife ridiculed by other characters in the movie; hardly a decent part for one of Britain's biggest former idols.

I had heard not too good reports of this and with particular reference to 'dark scenes' and poor prints. Well, glad to say, nothing wrong with my bright and colourful print and cannot imagine what scenes had seemed so dark to some. This starts very well and I had to pinch myself to convince that this was a 70s British film, such was the uncompromising nudity and violence. Indeed it carries on in this vein, with Jack Palance turning in a rather effective and restrained performance. Things are fine till about halfway and while all the sacrifices to Chuku have thus far been in house as it were, we now go on the most convoluted exercise to achieve killing and alibi. Quite ridiculous. Had probably been okay in the original book but clearly film doesn't have to be so slavish. Still, we get back on track and all ends fairly well with Palance at last letting go and show his truly demented side. Julie Ege, Suzy Kendall and Diana Dors all put in an appearance but only the latter to particularly good effect.

Jack Palance plays an antique dealer Neal Mottram,who worships creepy looking statue of African God Chuku.Chuku is supposed to bring wealth and good fortune,but it also demands human sacrifices.Neal starts killing sexy British ladies to satisfy Chuku."Craze" by Freddie Francis features an over-the-top performance of the great and sadly missed Jack Palance.There are some comedic moments as well as plenty of suspense.Sexy Suzy Kendall of "Torso" and "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" shines as a hooker/dominatrix."Craze" is based on Henry Seymour's book,but I found that Chuku was a creator deity of the Ibo people of Nigeria.Diana Dors is superb in a supporting role here and also in "Nothing But the Night",a horror film which was the only movie ever made by Christopher Lee's own production company.7 out of 10.