With the bridge washed away during a storm, you are cordially invited to join a diverse group of people for an evening of fun and games at the local Spooky Old Mansion. Not surprisingly, it’s a Spooky Old Mansion that comes complete with, you guessed it, Something Creeping in the Dark. But we’re not talking about an ordinary “something” but, rather, the spirit of an accused murderess who also “dabbled in the secrets of black magic.” Which, of course, is both the entire plot and the fuel for the fireworks in this fun Italian Seventies-style supernatural thriller.

Taking refuge in said mansion are pill-pushing Dr. Williams and his ice-cold assistant, Susan West, on their way to a life-or-death operation; their hitchhiking passenger, Professor Lawrence, who’s interested in the occult; rich, bickering socialites Donald Forrest (the ubiquitous GIACOMO ROSSI STUART), and his hot-to-trot wife Sylvia (LUCIA BOSE); and detective Sam and Inspector Wright with their prisoner, “a rotten murderer” named... Spike. (Mr. Spike is played by Strangers on a Train star FARLEY GRANGER, who headed to Europe when his Hollywood career waned and also appeared in such charming sleaze as Amuck, The Co-Ed Murders, and The Slasher is the Sex Maniac.)

Though Sylvia has a great idea – “Don’t you think this is a marvelous opportunity for an orgy?” – she settles instead for fantasizing about Spike attacking her while she repeatedly stabs him and he laughs in her face (a very strange scene), before holding a seance to contact the deceased owner of the house, the eccentric Sheila Marlowe. Despite Sylvia’s party-pooping hubby refusing to participate, it appears that the spirit of Miss Marlowe enters dull Donald, turns his face pasty white, and has him babbling about being dead: “Give me a voice! Give me a face!”

But once contacted, Sheila refuses to leave, and her heavy-breathing presence floats through the halls of the house before possessing Susan, who goes sex-crazy on the doc: “Susan, you look changed...” Then Inspector Wright is attacked by barrels in the basement – or is he? Donald, meanwhile, either gets possessed or goes loony on his own – or both – and first tries to bond with Spike before deciding to permanently end his marriage. Spike eventually escapes, a big wind blows, Sheila’s presence grows stronger, and everyone gathers for one final big “Boo!!”

Stylish, impenetrable, typically elegant Italian booga-booga, Something Creeping in the Dark has nevertheless ended up in the Vault of Obscurity despite a limited theatrical release in the U.S. by JOSEPH GREEN, the director of The Brain That Wouldn’t Die. Fortunately, Something Weird has uncovered a rare 35mm theatrical print which is presented here in approximately 1.85:1 widescreen. But remember, kids: “This type of morbid exultation can be harmful to the nerves!”