The Black Room 1935
"Dead or Alive... He could kill!"
Set against the brooding backdrop of a 16th-century European village, *The Black Room (1935)* weaves a dark tale of fate, power, and brotherly dread.
Director: Roy William Neill
Cast
Boris Karloff
Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
Marian Marsh
Thea Hassel
Robert Allen
Lt. Albert Lussan
Thurston Hall
Col. Paul Hassel
Katherine DeMille
Mashka
John Buckler
Beran - the gypsy
Henry Kolker
Baron de Berghman
Colin Tapley
Paul Hassel as a young lieutenant
Torben Meyer
Peter, the majordomo
John George
Inn Waiter (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Black Room (1935) about?
The film follows twin brothers born to a noble family, where an ancient prophecy predicts the younger will murder the elder. As the elder twin rules with cruelty, his fear of the prophecy drives him to desperate measures when his brother returns, setting off a chilling chain of events.
Who directed The Black Room?
Roy William Neill directed *The Black Room*. Known for his work in mystery and horror films, Neill crafts a tense, atmospheric narrative that blends gothic dread with crime.
Who stars in The Black Room?
The cast includes horror icon Boris Karloff alongside Marian Marsh, Robert Allen, Thurston Hall, and Katherine DeMille.
Is The Black Room (1935) worth watching?
While not as widely remembered as other Karloff films, *The Black Room* offers a compelling mix of gothic horror and psychological tension. Its tight runtime and moody atmosphere make it a solid pick for fans of vintage horror, even if it leans more toward crime than outright supernatural scares.
How long is The Black Room?
The Black Room has a runtime of 70 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
About The Black Room (1935) — A Gothic Horror of Brotherly Betrayal and Dark Prophecies
Set against the brooding backdrop of a 16th-century European village, *The Black Room (1935)* weaves a dark tale of fate, power, and brotherly dread. Directed by Roy William Neill, this gothic horror-drama unfolds when a prophecy warns that twin heirs born to a noble family will seal their doom—with the younger brother destined to kill the elder. As the elder twin grows into a cruel and hedonistic ruler, his tyranny over the once-happy villagers only deepens his paranoia. When news arrives that his brother is returning from abroad, his obsession with avoiding the prophecy spirals into a deadly confrontation, blending crime and supernatural tension in a claustrophobic castle setting.
Marian Marsh stars opposite Boris Karloff as the tormented siblings, their performances amplifying the film's eerie atmosphere. With its shadowy cinematography and moral decay at its core, *The Black Room* explores themes of ambition, prophecy, and the inescapable weight of destiny. A forgotten gem of early horror, it's a moody, suspenseful journey into the heart of a family's self-destruction.
