Theater of Blood

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Theater of Blood

R,

1973,

1h 44m,

Horror/

Comedy

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Watchlist

88%

41 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

41 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) is incensed that his last season of performances in Shakespearean plays did not win him a prestigious acting award from critics. After an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Lionheart is rescued by a group of drug-addicted bums. He then sets out to murder all of his critics, each with a different style of death taken from a Shakespeare play. When Lionheart faces head critic Peregrine Devlin (Ian Hendry), he offers Devlin a second chance to bestow the award.

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Critics Consensus

Deliciously campy and wonderfully funny, Theater of Blood features Vincent Price at his melodramatic best.

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Colin Bennett

The Age (Australia)

Sep 28, 2022

A lot of fun, if you don't mind the gallons of ketchup.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Sep 27, 2022

Isn't too bad at all.

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Eric Shorter

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Sep 27, 2022

A jokey horror film.

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Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

Jun 2, 2026

3.5/5

Price and Rigg are having such a blast in this romp that even its far too episodic structure doesn't detract from all the fun.

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Joe Lipsett

Horror Queers Podcast

May 29, 2026

3/5

A great showcase for Price, though one wishes he and Rigg go to camp/vamp it up together more, rather than belabour the unsurprising twist that she's the assistant in drag.

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Draco R

Mar 28, 2019

A very gory and dark film, (especially for Legendary Vincent Price) "Theater Of Blood" mixes dark humor with melodramatic acting and a fine performance from Diana Rigg makes this film a classic.

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Luke G

Jul 30, 2018

Vincent Price is one of my heroes

Abraham G

Jan 23, 2018

Vincent Price and a game cast make Shakespeare fun for the audience and miserable for theatre critics as a retired actor takes revenge on critics who panned him in the press.

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George S

Nov 23, 2017

A film with Vincent Price in it is always a chilling experience. This one features a great performance from the great actor. But it, being unconventional funny and inventive, nevertheless feels a bit over-the-top in a negative sense; closer to the end I felt a little tired with all the theatrical flashy tricks. Maybe I just don't like theater that much.

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Poe P

Sep 17, 2017

One of Price's most entertaining efforts. He gets to play several characters within a character, wiping out the critics who cost him an acting award. The gore is well done and the humor balances things out nicely.

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Draco W

Jan 25, 2017

A genius way of approaching Shakespeare... Without a doubt on my top 10 list of favorite films.

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Douglas Hickox

Director

Vincent Price

Edward Kendal Sheridan Lionheart

Diana Rigg

Edwina Lionheart

Robert Morley

Meredith Merridew

Ian Hendry

Peregrine Devlin

Harry Andrews

Trevor Dickman

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Synopsis

Edward Lionheart (Vincent Price) is incensed that his last season of performances in Shakespearean plays did not win him a prestigious acting award from critics. After an unsuccessful attempt at suicide, Lionheart is rescued by a group of drug-addicted bums. He then sets out to murder all of his critics, each with a different style of death taken from a Shakespeare play. When Lionheart faces head critic Peregrine Devlin (Ian Hendry), he offers Devlin a second chance to bestow the award.

Director: Douglas Hickox
Producer: John Kohn, Stanley Mann
Screenwriter: Anthony Greville-Bell
Production Co: United Artists, CineMan Productions, Harbour Productions Limited
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 19, 2017
Runtime: 1h 44m

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