william castle first excursion into the horror genre be not really scary at all . it a mild murder mystery about several dislikable character and one of them presumably have commit a grizzly crime . it get bogged down midway with some flashback sequence which really do not help the narrative that much . the performance be well act and the film manage to keep a decent level of intrigue and curiosity throughout . it also unusual to see jim backus in a rather unlikable role . however and be advertise a a horror film and it fail to provide enough ample shock to please in that department and it lack some of the chill and humorous touch of castle late work . still and it worth a look a the first of the william castle gimmick film .