(1960) Heinz Drache, Ingrid van Bergen, Benno Sterzenbach, Ina Duscha, Ludwig Linkmann, Klaus Kinski. Drache, who is an agent from the “Special Branch” is assigned the job of finding and catching “The Executioner,” a monstrous killer who lops the heads off his victims, then packages them up and leaves them strewn about the English countryside for unsuspecting citizens to discover. Following a hot clue, Drache ends up on a movie set where he’s certain the killer is hiding. However, figuring out the killer’s identity could prove to be deadly. Drache is his usual cooler-than-cool self and van Bergen shines as a high maintenance movie actress, but Klaus Kinski is particularly effective as the creepy script reader. Also watch for the ape-like hunchback servant who constantly lurks about. This is easily one of the best of the non-Rialto Edgar Wallace thrillers to come out of Germany in the early 1960s. The only things missing are Karin Dor and Eddi Arent. From 35mm.
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