Peter Cushing in The Skull

Have you seen this bizarre little gem?

In it, Peter Cushing plays a collector of supernatural relics. He comes into possession of the skull of the Marquis de Sade, which rapidly comes into possession of Cushing.

I have seldom seen a better cinematic representation of the cut-throat mania for collecting, and the film has a wonderfully creepy vibe. And Cushing was never better.

Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places ... but what fascinated me most about this film is the almost clubland atmosphere. Cushing is not some basement-dwelling mama's boy, but an accomplished scholar with taste, refinement and deep pockets.

If only the Gothic community was a little more like Cushing (barring the homicidal possession, of course).