Sound of Horror
Encyclopedia
Sound of Horror is a 1964 Spanish film directed by José Antonio Nieves Conde.
countryside, two men; Archaeologist Dr. Pete Asilov and Professor Andre attempt to detonate dynamite
in an old abandoned mountain cave, uncovering nothing more than petrified eggs in their blasts, taking one they fail to notice another had rolled off and hatched open, releasing some reptilian creature that adapts to its environment
and vanishes. Andre lives in a nearby villa with his orphaned niece Maria and their superstitious and wise Greek housekeeper Calliope who warns Andre of the dangers of monsters and angry spirits in the mountain, which Andre ignores.
Later in the day, as Prof. Andre is investigating his half of an ancient map that tells him there is over a million dollars worth of gold hidden in the cave, his business partner Dorman arrives with his associates Stravos, Andre his driver and his girlfriend Sofia carrying with them the other half of the map which tells them where to dig for the treasure. Further ominous clues, such as the decaying body of an ancient neanderthal woman further enforce Calliope's warnings, but the men are determined to find their treasure and split it into thirds (Between Prof. Andre, Asilov and Dorman) which they will use to take care of their respective parties. They discover the bones of a man who was likely buried to keep from divulging the secret of the treasure while the women and Andre head out to sunbathe, a hint of their discovery lures the men out, leaving Stravos alone who is investigating the mummified corpse and he is killed when the creature stalks up unseen and slashes him to death with its claws. Shaken by its horrific scream, the men resolve to return to the cave for the treasure, thinking it and Stravos' death being the doing of would-be thieves from the nearby village. They are proven wrong and are chased back to the villa and in the process Dorman is injured. Terrified of what might be hunting them, they decide to forget the treasure and to work up a plan to escape. While fetching water for coffee, Calliope is killed by the creature and the humans barricade themselves in the villa
Professor Andre, determined to see his niece safe entrusts her with Pete who shares an affection with her and sneaks back to the cave in order to seal it up. He is attacked, but not before he detonates the dynamite and blows the cave entrance shut. The next morning, believing themselves to be safe, the remainder of the group boards Andre's car he dubbed "Diana" and they try to leave, but the engine floods and as they are trying to start it, the creature returns, forcing them back into the house. they are attacked by the creature who had snuck into the villa and they are barely able to trick it outside, Andre notices a trail of clawprints leading from the kitchen and using the flour
to help track the creature, they are able to trick it and injure it with hatchets and it flees. They return to Diana and are able to start her, enroute however, the creature reveals itself to be on top of the car which forces them to pull over and escape. Dorman ignites the fuel
reserves in the back of the jeep, destroying himself and the creature in a massive ball of fire. The creature dead and the four remaining survivors safe, they start their journey back to town on foot.
Plot summary
On a GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
countryside, two men; Archaeologist Dr. Pete Asilov and Professor Andre attempt to detonate dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
in an old abandoned mountain cave, uncovering nothing more than petrified eggs in their blasts, taking one they fail to notice another had rolled off and hatched open, releasing some reptilian creature that adapts to its environment
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
and vanishes. Andre lives in a nearby villa with his orphaned niece Maria and their superstitious and wise Greek housekeeper Calliope who warns Andre of the dangers of monsters and angry spirits in the mountain, which Andre ignores.
Later in the day, as Prof. Andre is investigating his half of an ancient map that tells him there is over a million dollars worth of gold hidden in the cave, his business partner Dorman arrives with his associates Stravos, Andre his driver and his girlfriend Sofia carrying with them the other half of the map which tells them where to dig for the treasure. Further ominous clues, such as the decaying body of an ancient neanderthal woman further enforce Calliope's warnings, but the men are determined to find their treasure and split it into thirds (Between Prof. Andre, Asilov and Dorman) which they will use to take care of their respective parties. They discover the bones of a man who was likely buried to keep from divulging the secret of the treasure while the women and Andre head out to sunbathe, a hint of their discovery lures the men out, leaving Stravos alone who is investigating the mummified corpse and he is killed when the creature stalks up unseen and slashes him to death with its claws. Shaken by its horrific scream, the men resolve to return to the cave for the treasure, thinking it and Stravos' death being the doing of would-be thieves from the nearby village. They are proven wrong and are chased back to the villa and in the process Dorman is injured. Terrified of what might be hunting them, they decide to forget the treasure and to work up a plan to escape. While fetching water for coffee, Calliope is killed by the creature and the humans barricade themselves in the villa
Professor Andre, determined to see his niece safe entrusts her with Pete who shares an affection with her and sneaks back to the cave in order to seal it up. He is attacked, but not before he detonates the dynamite and blows the cave entrance shut. The next morning, believing themselves to be safe, the remainder of the group boards Andre's car he dubbed "Diana" and they try to leave, but the engine floods and as they are trying to start it, the creature returns, forcing them back into the house. they are attacked by the creature who had snuck into the villa and they are barely able to trick it outside, Andre notices a trail of clawprints leading from the kitchen and using the flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
to help track the creature, they are able to trick it and injure it with hatchets and it flees. They return to Diana and are able to start her, enroute however, the creature reveals itself to be on top of the car which forces them to pull over and escape. Dorman ignites the fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
reserves in the back of the jeep, destroying himself and the creature in a massive ball of fire. The creature dead and the four remaining survivors safe, they start their journey back to town on foot.
Cast
- James PhilbrookJames PhilbrookJames Philbrook was an American actor who appeared in supporting roles in three short-lived television series between 1959 and 1963: The Islanders on ABC and The Investigators and The New Loretta Young Show, both on CBS...
as Dr. Pete Asilov - Arturo FernándezArturo FernándezArturo Fernández is a Spanish actor who has appeared in numerous films since making his debut in 1954. He was born in Madrid.-References:...
as Prof. Andre - Soledad MirandaSoledad MirandaSoledad Rendón Bueno , better known by her stage names Soledad Miranda or Susann Korda , was an actress who was born in Seville, Spain to Portuguese parents of Roma ancestry. She frequently starred in the films of Jess Franco, such as Count Dracula and Vampyros Lesbos...
as Maria - José BódaloJosé BódaloJosé Bódalo was an Argentine born Spanish film actor.-Biography:Bódalo was born in Córdoba, Argentina, the son of actress Eugenia Zúffoli and actor and singer Jose Bodalo, Sr....
as Mr. Dorman - Antonio CasasAntonio CasasAntonio Casas was a Spanish footballer turned film actor who appeared in film between 1941 and his death in 1982....
as Andre - Ingrid PittIngrid PittIngrid Pitt was an actress best known for her work in horror films of the 1960s and 1970s.-Background:Pitt was born Ingoushka Petrov in Warsaw, Poland to a German father of Russian descent and a Polish Jewish mother. During World War II she and her family were imprisoned in a concentration camp...
as Sofia Minelli - Lola GaosLola GaosLola Gaos, , was a Spanish film, television and theatre actress....
as Calliope, the housekeeper - Francisco Piquer as Stravos