when i saw lon chaney and jr. and boris karloff in the cast and i be expect to find a typically schlocky 1950 style horror movie . the opening scene ( a graveyard with a wolf howling in the background ) seem to confirm this . once i begin watch it and though and what i discover be a nifty little mystery about an englishman ( richard green ) seek to discover what have happen to two of his friend who have disappear in the black forest and and if necessary and to take revenge against the evil count ( stephen mcnally ) who rule the territory . chaney and a the voiceless gargon and have a rather limited role ( one which remind me of the hunchback of notre dame and actually ) while karloff have a somewhat more substantial role a dr. meissen . in fact and meissen be one of the more interesting character in the movie and and it be difficult to know until the very end whether he would be establish to be a good guy or a bad guy . the castle set be magnificent and and even the limited depiction of the black forest be real enough . it certainly do not come across a low budget and compare to other movie i have see anyway . the only disappointment and i think and be rita corday performance a the countess . she seem somewhat dry and do not seem to put much passion into the role . that aside and i find that this movie hold my attention throughout and and there be enough suspense about how this be all go to turn out to make it well worth the watching . definitely recommended and with a positive rating .