Spirits of the Dead
1968 · Movie · 121 min · ★ 6.3 · 81% critics
This anthology adapts three Edgar Allan Poe tales into separate episodes: a decadent noblewoman becomes obsessed with a mysterious horse, a cruel young man is tormented by an identical double, and a troubled performer spirals through a surreal night after arriving for public appearances. Each story leans into gothic mood, psychological unease, and dark satire.
Also known as Tales of Mystery · Powers of Evil · Tales of Mystery and Imagination
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Details
- Original title
- Histoires extraordinaires
- Years
- 1968
- Release date
- 1968-05-16
- Language
- French
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Critic score
- 81/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.3/10 (184 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a strange, adult-leaning Poe-inspired anthology with gothic decadence, doubles, and surreal celebrity satire; Not for you if you need straightforward scares, likable leads, or consistently brisk pacing like Black Sabbath.
Pros: striking gothic atmosphere; imaginative surreal moments; memorable set pieces | Cons: uneven quality; slow pacing stretches; unpleasant characters
Themes
- army
- obsession
- anthology
- catholic
- alcoholic
- desire
- based on song, poem or rhyme
- doppelgänger
- movie star
- horror anthology
- poe
Cast & crew
Brigitte Bardot
as Giuseppina (segment "William Wilson")
Alain Delon
as William Wilson and his double (segment "William Wilson")
Jane Fonda
as Contessa Frederique de Metzengerstein (segment "Metzengerstein")
Terence Stamp
as Toby Dammit (segment "Toby Dammit")
Peter Fonda
as Baron Wilhelm Berlifitzing (segment "Metzengerstein")
James Robertson Justice
as Countess' Advisor (segment "Metzengerstein")
Salvo Randone
as Priest (segment "Toby Dammit")
Françoise Prévost
as Friend of Countess (segment "Metzengerstein")
Katia Christine
as Girl on Dissection Table
Philippe Lemaire
as Philippe
Directed by Federico Fellini, Louis Malle, Roger Vadim