Orgy of the Dead (1965) - full transcript

John and his girlfriend Shirley go in search of a cemetary in order to inspire John for writing his next horror story. After they crash the car, they wander into the graveyard and encounter the dancing dead, a full moon spectacle overseen by the Ruler of the Dark. Before long the couple is spotted and taken prisoner. Tied to stakes and forced to watch the dancing, they await their fate.

(dramatic music)

(doors creaking)

(dramatic music)

I am Criswell!

For years I have told
the almost unbelievable,

related the unreal, and shown
it to be more than a fact.

Now I tell a tale of
the threshold, people,

so astounding that
some of you may faint.

This is a story of those
in the twilight time,

once human, now monsters,

in a void between the
living and the dead.



Monsters to be pitied,
monsters to be despised.

A night with the ghouls,

the ghouls reborn,

from the innermost
depths of the world.

(eerie music)

We sure picked the wrong
night to find a cemetery.

Let's turn back.

No, it's on a night like this

when the best
ideas come to mind.

But does it have
to be in a cemetery?

You wouldn't understand.

Seeing a cemetery
on a night like this

can stir in the mind the best
ideas for a good horror story.

But there's so many wonderful
things to write about, Bob.



Sure there are, and
I've tried them all;

plays, love stories,
westerns, dog stories.

Huh, now there was a good one,
that dog story all about--

But horror stories, why
all the time horror stories?

Shirley, I wrote for years
without selling a single word.

My monsters have
done well for me.

You think I'd give that up

just so I could write about
trees, or dogs, or daisies?

(chuckles) Daisies.

That's it, I'll write
about my creatures

who are pushing up the daisies.

Your puritan upbringing
holds you back

from my monsters,

but it certainly doesn't
hurt your art of kissing.

That's life, my
kisses are alive.

Who's to say my
monsters aren't alive?

(upbeat music)

All of my books and stories
are based on fact, or legend.

That's perhaps why
they're more interesting

and sell in the top spots.

Well, fact or not, I don't
see how we're gonna find

an ancient cemetery in
these mountains tonight.

I can't see a thing.

Let's turn back.

There's an old
cemetery on this road.

I've been there before.

I'm getting the jitters.

Let's turn back.

Okay, just as soon
as I find a place

wide enough to turn around.

Not so fast.

Not so fast!

(brakes screeching)

(Shirley screaming)

(crashing)

(crickets chirping)

(somber music)

It is said on clear nights,

beneath the cold
light of the moon,

howls a dog and a wolf,

and creeping things
crawl out of the slime.

It is then the ghouls feast
in all their radiance.

It is on nights like
this most people

prefer to steer clear
of, uh, burial grounds.

It is on nights like this,

that the creatures
are said to appear,

and to walk!

The day is gone, the night
is upon us, and the moon,

which controls all
of the underworld,

once again shines in
radiant contentment.

Come forth, come forth,
oh Princess of Darkness.

(dramatic music)

Time seems to stand still.

Not so the ghouls, when a
night of pleasure is at hand!

If I am not pleased by
tonight's entertainment,

I shall banish their souls
to everlasting damnation!

(gong tolling)

And who is to be first?

(chanting and drum beating)

One who loved flames.

Her lovers were
killed by flames.

She died in flames.

(drum banging and
crickets chirping)

(chanting and drum beating)

(somber music)

One who prowls the lonely
streets at night in life

is bound to prowl
them in eternity.

(Sultry music)

[Criswell] Ahh, the
curiosity of youth,

on the road to ruin.

May it ever be so adventurous.

I'm so frightened.

Well we certainly
can't stay here, come on.

Where?

In there.

It frightens me.

Silly, there's nothing
in there to be afraid of.

Then, then what's that music?

That's what I wanna find out.

We have to get help.

What help can we possibly
find in the cemetery

at this time of night?

Well, something's
making that music.

I'm not sure I care
to find out what it is.

All right, don't worry,
I'll be right beside you.

What help will that do if
something in there isn't dead?

Not dead, in a cemetery?

I can't imagine anything
dead playing that music.

Well, it's probably
just the caretaker,

and that's exactly
who we want to find.

They'll have a telephone.

Come on.

(Sultry music)

Could it be some kind
of college initiation?

It's an initiation all right,

but not of a college
as you and I know them.

Nothing alive looks like that.

Can't we get out of here?

I'm not sure.

What do you mean?

I'm not sure of myself.

It's just a feeling I've
had since the crash, like,

like I feel a cold
chill all over.

Now this.

(Sultry music)

I would see for approval,

the one who in life worshiped
gold above all else.

(chiming dramatic music)

- Look!
- Be careful, they'll see you.

(seductful music)

Throw gold at her.

More gold.

More gold!

More gold!

(laughing)

(seductful music)

(laughing)

(seductful music)

For all eternity,
she shall have gold.

(dramatic music)

(laughing)

(bubbling)

(crickets chirping)

(dramatic music)

And both couldn't help
but remember a line

from one of Bob's stories,
a sudden wind howls.

The night things
are all about me,

every shadow, a beckoning
invitation to disaster.

I know I should think of other
things, of pleasant things,

but I can't.

How can I think of other
things, of pleasant things,

when I am in a place surrounded
by shadows and objects,

which can take any shape,
here in the darkness,

any shape my mind can conceive?

Bring 'em in!

They are live ones?

[Mummy] Yes, Master.

Live ones where only
the dead should be?

[Mummy] Yes, Master, and
we caught them, him and me.

(Wolfman howling)

You shall both be rewarded.

My dear empress of the night,

put these intruders to the test.

But they are
not yet one of us.

A situation easily remedied.

'Fe them that they may watch.

(crickets chirping)

(suspenseful music)

Fiend, fiend!

To love the cat,
is to be the cat.

(crickets chirping)

(whip snapping)

(Playful music
and whip snapping)

A pussycat is
born to be whipped.

It will please me very much

to see the slave girl
with her tortures!

(whip snapping and
woman groaning)

Torture, torture,
it pleasures me!

Torture, torture,
it pleasures me!

Torture, torture,
it pleasures me!

(gong ringing)

I'm so frightened.

You've got a right to be.

We're trapped by
a bunch of fiends.

Those creatures!

Don't let them hear you.

What can we do?

I don't know.

I just don't know,
but don't give up.

We're not finished yet.

Easy Shirley, easy!

Panic won't do us any good!

Let me think.

We've got to stall for time.

I'm afraid I'll faint.

Whatever you
do, don't do that.

(dramatic music)

(screaming)

(dramatic music)

Hold!

Let her continue to learn.

The time is not yet right
that they should join with us.

And what is this?

A symbol, Master.

What kind of symbol?

She loved the bull
ring and the matador.

She danced to their destruction.

Now she dances to
her own destruction.

Her dance is of skulls.

(salsa music)

She came to us on
the day of the dead.

El dia de los muertos, a
celebration in her country.

(mariachi music)

Her dance has pleased me.

(island jazz music)

With the loss of her lover,

this one cast herself
into the volcano's fire.

She was?

As I said, a
worshiper of snakes,

and of smoke, and flames.

Oh, yes, a religion of sorts.

It would seem so, Master.

[Mummy] I don't like snakes.

I remember the one
Cleopatra used.

Cute little rascal until it
flicked out that red tongue,

and those two sharp fangs.

You'd never think
such a little thing

packed such a big wallop.

[Wolfman] Argh, hurt her?

[Mummy] Hell it killed her!

(Wolfman growling)

We had lots of snakes
in my ancient Egypt,

slimy, slinky things.

(Wolfman howling)

When I was alive,

they were the things
nightmares were made of.

(Wolfman growling)

(island jazz music)

(Wolfman growling)

(island jazz music)

She pleases me.

Permit her to live in
the world of the snakes.

Now, I will talk to the
Wolfman and the Mummy.

As you wish, Master.

[Mummy] He wants us.

Ah, what do you suppose for?

(Wolfman growling)

Did you do something to
get us into trouble again?

(Wolfman growling)

Did you howl off-key
at the moon again?

Uh-uhn

[Mummy] I can't remember
doing anything wrong either.

Come!

[Mummy] We better go
before we make him mad.

We are your servants, Master.

Of course you are.

[Mummy] Have we in some
way made you angry, Master?

[Criswell] You know
better than that.

We don't know of
anything, Master.

[Criswell] Then
why do you shake so?

It's not often
an emperor like you

calls on creatures like us.

Well rest easy, I'm not
angry with either of you.

Ah, then it is some
service you desire of us.

You are the keepers
of the damned.

You two know them all,

and I am tired of this
usual type of entertainment.

I want a decided change.

The moon, is soon gone!

There is little time left

for the remainder of
the evening's pleasures.

Yes, yes, yes I know all that.

At the first sight of
the morning sun's rays,

we must be gone.

I suppose most of the
others will have to wait

for their judgment until
after the next full moon.

It would seem so, Master.

Ah, but I declare there
is still time for something.

[Mummy] There are one or
two which should complement

the night's
entertainment, Master.

Ah, good.

Then I will see them,
dismiss the rest.

[Mummy] Yes, sir, Master.

(dramatic music)

The ropes are coming loose.

[Shirley] Be careful!

I am, it's our only chance.

Nothing is worth your life.

My guess is if we don't
take the chance pretty soon,

we're not going to have
much life left anyway.

I'm frightened,
I'm so frightened.

[Bob] Hold on just a
little longer, Shirley.

Be careful, oh
please be careful.

We'll never get
out of here alive,

I know it, I just feel it.

You do?

Yes I feel it in my bones.

You're talking nonsense.

Oh, no I'm not.

These heathens probably
have an open grave for us.

They wouldn't dare put
us in the same grave.

Or would they?

[Shirley] I should
hope not, I hate you!

That sudden?

[Shirley] Yes, that sudden.

If it weren't for you
we wouldn't be hunting

for an old cemetery
on a night like this.

It's all your fault.

And I thought you loved me.

Not yet, I perhaps have other
plans for such a pretty one.

No matter, I will tell you
when and if you may have her.

(suspenseful music)

The Wolfman informs
me that the next one

is the woman who
murdered her husband

on their wedding night.

Now she dances
with his skeleton.

(ominous music)

(upbeat jazz music)

Have you not enjoyed
the evening's festivities?

Ah, that will soon change
when you become one of us.

(Wolfman howling)

It would seem that the Wolfman

would have you for his own.

(screaming)

I have promised both the Wolfman

and the Mummy a reward.

It could be that
you are that reward.

(screaming)

You need not worry,
not just now anyway.

Leave her alone, you fiend!

Fiend is it!

You will not be so fortunate.

Your existence will
cease within moments.

No one wishes to
see a man dance.

And you, my dear, will
entertain for centuries to come.

If I could get
my hands on you!

Oh, you could do nothing!

I can save you much pain.

Leave her alone, I tell you!

[Criswell] I do not
joke in my proposals.

She is to be mine,
it is so spoken!

The Princess of Darkness
would have you for her own

to join us through extreme pain.

Yet I am inclined for
one as lovely as you,

to be more lenient.

I have but to touch
you with my finger

and it would mean
the end of you,

all over, quickly
and painlessly.

No, no, no!

I repulse you?

Very well, it seems you
have chosen your own fate.

Live with it, I should
say die with it!

I've got the ropes loose now.

I've got my hands free.

Be careful, don't change
your expression too much.

They must not catch on.

What can we do against them?

I don't know, yet.

We'll just have to
watch our chance.

When it comes, I'll
know what to do.

I hope I'll know what to do.

I still don't know what
ever made me go steady

with a crackpot writer like you.

All right, put it on heavy.

My old boyfriend Tommy

would never have gotten
me in a mess like this.

At least he's got brains.

Him!

I'll bet he sleeps
with all the lights on.

Maybe so.

[Mummy] I could make
her another Cleopatra.

[Wolfman] Argh ha ha!

[Mummy] Without
the snake, of course.

- Well?
- Ah, she will be yours.

- When?
- At your discretion,

but first, I desire
more entertainment.

The moon is almost gone!

Ah, there is yet time.

At the first sight of
the morning's rays' light.

I know the laws of the night.

I state there is still
time for yet another.

I would have time
for my own pleasures!

Your own pleasure
comes only after mine,

when I desire it.

I am the sole ruler
of the dark world.

There is no one to
challenge my authority here.

My word is the
law, all powerful.

No one is to challenge
that authority, no one!

Is that understood?

It is my command.

I understand, Master.

Then see that it
does not happen again,

in the penalty of
everlasting despair.

Now are there others?

There are others.

Well then let us proceed.

[Princess] She lived
as a zombie in life,

so she will remain
forever a zombie in death.

Easy, Shirley, easy!

(ominous music)

(discordant jazz music)

The moon sinks
lower into the hills!

We must hurry to the finish.

I will decide the conclusion.

You had the Mummy cancel

all the others scheduled
for this session.

Then cancel my order.

The moon is almost gone!

There is yet time.

Don't you want
your own pleasure?

Oh, if there is only time!

Ah, there is always time!

All in good time,
there is always time.

You shall have your
pleasures, that I decree!

All others were but
infinitesimal bits of fluff,

compared to her.

This one would have died for
feathers, furs, and fluff,

and so she did.

(sultry jazz music)

(sultry jazz music)

- The time, is short.
- For what?

Your pleasures of course!

- You mean?
- You may take her now.

Is there time?

You better hope there is.

Thank you, Master, thank you!

Now hurry, hurry,
I will watch!

Your desires may be
my pleasure also,

our fitting climax to an
evening's entertainment.

You must hurry now.

(suspenseful jazz music)

(dramatic music)

(lighthearted music)

Easy, Miss, everything's
gonna be all right.

Bob, Bob?

He's right here beside
you, he'll be all right too.

Where are they,
where did they go?

They tried to kill me.

What's this you say?

Who was going to kill you?

The ghouls, they all
turned into skeletons.

Take it easy, Miss.

What she needs is a good rest.

It's true, I tell
you, it's true!

They all turned into skeletons.

She, she cut me here.

Probably was
bruised in the crash.

You know, you two
were very lucky.

I love you Bob, I really do.

Forgive me?

There's nothing to
forgive, it was all a dream.

You love me then?

Of course I do.

Quick, quickly.

Easy does it, careful.

That's pretty bad
there, sure enough.

As it is with all
the night people,

they are destroyed by the
first rays of the sun,

but upon the first appearance

of the deep shadows
of the night,

and when the moon is full,

they will return to
rejoice in their evil lust,

and take back with
them any mortal

who might happen along.

Yes, they were lucky,
those two young people.

May you be so lucky.

But do not trust to luck
at the full of the moon.

When the night is dark,

make a wide path around
the unholy grounds,

of the night people.

Who can say that we
do not exist, can you?

But now, we return
to our graves,

and you may join us soon!

(dramatic music)