HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN (aka THE CONFESSIONAL MURDERS) is a highly underrated British horror movie directed by Pete Walker.I bought this movie as part of the Pete Walker Collection, a wonderful coffin shaped boxset containing this movie, along with FRIGHTMARE, THE HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN, THE HOUSE OF WHIPCORD and DIE SCREAMING MARIANNE. The said boxset is loaded with extras and is a must have for any fan of the director's movies.In this movie Pete Walker continues to demonstrate that he, along with the equally great director, Norman J. Warren, were the natural successors to Hammer, Amicus and Tigon. The three companies in question had dominated the British horror movie industry for over a decade, having made some truly superb productions. All three had ceased to produce horror movies at this point, paving the way for the two mentioned excellent directors to make independent movies now rightly appreciated as minor classics of low-budget cinema.HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN contains the most interesting premise found in a Pete Walker movie - the consequence of using religion to suppress sexual emotion.The plot involves a troubled young girl, Jenny, attending confession at the local church for the first time. The priest she confesses to develops an obsession with her. He first blackmails her using the tape recording of the confession and then moves on to murder. As the priest's obsession grows, Jenny's family and friends choose to believe her word over that of a trusted figure of the community. Everyone thinks Jenny is going insane and only the viewer sees the truth. The tension reaches crescendo and erupts into a climax that refuses to take the easy route out.In a rare moment for Walker, he puts atmosphere ahead of everything else in the horror aspect of this production.Walker's technique for developing atmosphere in this movie is the use of dark, downbeat, seemingly claustrophobic locations that contain evil, and attract and trap unknowing victims before going in for the kill (pun intended).Walker also borrows from the Italian "Giallo" movies, especially with the POV shots of an unseen killer as well as the black gloves.The killing scenes are graphic as pointed out by other users, but they are tamer than those found in most of Walker's other movies, with little emphasis on gore or impact. This is made up for by the clear character-driven context they are presented in.For dealing with the psychological aspects of the movie, Walker relies on the actors to carry the story. And there are superb actors here.Anthony Sharp gives the best performance of his career as the sexually-frustrated priest. This is a significant departure from his usual supporting roles as an authority figure in the form of a government official. He shows us a very self-tormented man, indulging in self-pity due to guilt at his own choices, harbouring perverse desires and feeling resentful of his mother for persuading him to become a priest. In other scenes, he shows someone who is cold, heartless, twisted and merciless. At all times, he gives everyone except the viewer and his victims the impression of being the genuinely respectable man of the moral high ground that people in the community regard him as.Susan Penhaligon gave an equally great performance as the troubled young girl, Jenny. Her fear and torment are conveyed perfectly. In addition, she gives her character a certain level of naiveté that makes both her character more convincing and the viewer sympathetic.Sheila Keith, a veteran of Pete Walker's movies, gives another superb chilling performance. This time she plays the priest's housekeeper and takes care of his elderly mother. She is given one of the best lines in the movie and it can be found in the memorable quotes section.On the downside, Stephanie Beacham is wasted in a throwaway role that fails to make sufficient use of her talent and charisma.Another negative factor was the casting of Norman Eshley to play the role of the younger priest. Norman Eshley was great in the TV sitcom, GEORGE AND MILDRED, and is clearly great at playing roles in comedic settings elsewhere. But serious acting roles are not his forte.Overall, HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is a vastly underrated horror movie by Pete Walker. It is a must-see for all his fans and fans of British horror movies from the heyday of British cinema in the 1960s and 1970s.

Even though the majority of his movies haven't gone on to win vast acclaim or classic status, any fan of cinema would have to admit that British horror maestro Pete Walker is one of the most fascinating directors of the seventies. House of Mortal Sin follows the common Pete Walker theme of hypocrisy in an institution; and this time it's the church that gets lampooned. The film does feel like an all too obvious attempt to drum up some controversy, but it's all so well done that it's easy to ignore this fact and just enjoy the twisted imagination of Pete Walker and scriptwriter David McGillivray. Catholic priests are always above suspicion due their high moral ground in society, and so the idea that one of them could go off the rails and abuse his privileges is as intriguing as it is frightening. The story follows Father Xavier Meldrum; a priest who tapes the confessions of his parishioners and then uses them for blackmailing purposes! And he isn't content to stop there, as if the blackmail doesn't go to plan - he isn't morally above murder! The film is a little overlong and slightly overindulgent at times; but Pete Walker paces the plot well, and although at least ten minutes could have been shaved from the movie; it never gets boring. Walker is great at creating atmosphere, and through ugly cinematography and downbeat locations, the director ensures that there is nothing pleasant about the movie. The murder scenes are graphic in a typically seventies fashion, although the talented director never lets the blood overtake the plot, and the murder scenes are an event within the movie; rather than the plot being tied around the gore. The film takes influence from a range of sources, including the slasher sub-genre (most notably Psycho), as well as the Italian Giallo (the black gloves towards the end being a particular highlight) and even Walker's own previous efforts. As usual, Walker pulls great performances out of his older actors. Anthony Sharp is suitably sinister in the lead role, and also manages to retain his edge of authority. Hilda Barry gives the film the right amount of horror as the mother, while Walker regular Sheila Keith rounds off the cast in a convincingly macabre role. On the whole; this may not be as great as House of Whipcord, but House of Mortal Sin is further proof that Pete Walker really knows how to make his audience think and comes recommended.

I've really got to disagree with most of the reviews I've read on House of Mortal Sin (I prefer that title to The Confessional). Most reviewers seem to see it as one of Pete Walker's weaker films. I saw it as one of his best – second only to House of Whipcord. It's an entertaining tale of one Priest's madness and the young girl who tries to reveal his secret. Instead of uncovering the truth, she's the one who is labeled "mad" for making such accusations against such a respected figure. She can't get anyone to believe her until it's too late.House of Mortal Sin includes some really suspenseful and tense moments. Viewing the picture, you learn early on just what the Priest is capable of. He's a holier-than-thou, above reproach figure who relishes his perversions and is quite at ease with viciously disposing of those who he feels stand in his way. It's really creepy watching the way he twists religion to meet his depraved desires. And to see the twinkle in his eye as he's trying to get the young girl to discuss her sex life is quite disturbing.Pete Walker was capable of getting more out of a group of relative unknown actors than most any director I've seen. As I've already alluded to, Anthony Sharp is outstanding as the demented Father Xavier Meldrum. Stephanie Beacham, Susan Penhaligon, and Norman Eshley all give terrific performances. And what can you really say about the genius of Shelia Keith. The woman was amazing. In the grand scheme of things, I'm a relative newcomer to Pete Walker's films. So my experiences with Keith are also relatively recent in nature. Still, having been aware of the woman for less than a year, I'm ready to put Keith on a list of my favorite actresses in horror movies alongside the likes of Barbara Steele and Edwige Fenech. Obviously, Keith is a different kind of actress with a vastly different style and look, but she's every bit their equal in the pleasure I derive from her work.

The charming story of a priest.....who murders people! Meet Father Xavier Meldrum from the Church of the Sacred Heart. He uses religious means to bump off his enemies such as a poisoned wafer, incense burner and rosary beads. Splendid performance by Anthony Sharp (remember him as the government minister in A Clockwork Orange?) as the obsessed vicar and a good turn by Pete Walker regular Sheila Keith as a one eyed housekeeper. A well done musical score by Stanley Myers is also featured. Remember this movie the next time you go to confession!