This is one of those Gothic period melodramas, similar in story and style to Wuthering Heights and Rebecca. And, just like those two comparables, it works best when it leans into the quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) eeriness of its setting.
When we're trapped in this hauntingly beautiful titular castle, with its towering sets, spooky vibes, unsettling music, and creepy (is there any other kind?) turn from Vincent Price, we reach that level of dark pomp and circumstance that I find atmospherically irresistible. And the whole thing's captured with such glowing cinematography and measured pacing that it's hard to believe this was Joe Mankiewicz's first movie.
Well, okay, you can sometimes tell. The tone's not as consistent as I'd like, and the passage of time could've been communicated a lot better (months frequently pass out of nowhere, and minor characters [including one or two who seem kinda vital] completely vanish from the story without explanation). But while the overall execution is far from perfect, I think the scenes that focus on building character and mood mostly are.
Grade: B+
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