Edward Styles was reported to be the notorious serial killer the Haymarket Strangler and the killer of five women. His MO was to strangle women and then stab them to death. Even though Styles was partially paralyzed in his left arm he was convicted and hung. Twenty years later author James Rankin (Boris Karloff) is convinced that Styles was not responsible for the murders and would have been cleared if he had proper legal representation. Rankin believes that a Dr. Tenant, who was the assistant to the police surgeon and performed the autopsies on the victims, is a viable suspect in the murders.
Rankin’s research in the case takes him from the police records to the asylum where Tenant ended up. Tenant then ran away with a nurse from the asylum. No one has seen him since. From there Rankin checks out the "Judas Hole” where the strangler selected his victims. The Judas Hole was a notorious dance hall famed for its can-can dancers and prostitutes.
Rankin’s research assistant, Dr. Kenneth McColl (Tim Turner) and Rankin’s daughter Lily (Diane Aubrey) are in love and are waiting for the right time to approach Rankin to ask for his blessing to marry. Rankin’s obsession with the case precludes him from giving his attention to anything other than Styles and Rankin’s quest for the facts. Rankin’s wife Barbara (Elizabeth Allan) is not happy with her husband’s quest.
The Strangler’s weapon was never found. Rankin believes that the real strangler put it in Styles’ coffin before he was buried. When Ranking approaches the prison warden for permission to exhume Styles’ body he is met with a firm refusal. With the assistance of an opportunistic guard, Rankin is covertly ushered into the prison cemetery in the middle of the night. Rankin digs up Style’s grave and finds the scalpel that was placed in the coffin.
When Rankin picks up the scalpel a transformation comes over him. His demeanor and appearance suddenly change. He appears to have been possessed by the spirit of the strangler. Soon a new murder is committed. Rankin wakes the next day with no memory of what he did. Is Rankin really possessed by the spirit of a murderer, or is there something else going on that is not paranormal but is something much closer to home?
“The Haunted Strangler” AKA “Grip of the Strangler” was released in 1958 and was directed by Robert Day. It is a British film based on the story “Stranglehold” by Jan Read. The screenplay was also written by Read especially for Boris Karloff. Some changes to the script were written by John Croydon. The film has been likened to a Jekyll and Hyde type story and an argument could be made for it. The main difference is that the main Jekyll and Hyde tale transformation is due to a drug induced psychosis. In “The Haunted Strangler” the psychosis is already there.
The film is not as well known as some of Karloff’s other films. That’s too bad. His performance is, of course, great. The transition from mild mannered author to raving homicidal maniac is testament to Karloff’s abilities as an actor. Especially when you consider that the change was achieved without the benefit of make-up. Director Day and the make-up department were discussing how to reflect Karloff’s change. Karloff suggested that the effect they were looking for could be done by him taking out his dentures. The result of that one change and Karloff’s acting is startling.
There are some slow parts in the beginning of the movie, but with a few twists here and there the movie gets very interesting. The film has had its share of critics that found it lacking. Perhaps the plot is a little less than original but it deserves more than to be lost in the annals of time. It is definitely worth seeing just for Karloff alone.