Strange and violent deaths are the norm at a remote Cornish village where a young couple inherit their brother's estate.

Efficient Hammer effort boasts an effective atmosphere and a good cast, particularly the gorgeous Jacqueline Pearce who would go on to become the villainess of Blake's Seven.

...and I think Roy Ashton's make-up for the Reptile itself is as super as anything from the heyday of Universal's monster movies.

According to the BBFC site, the film was originally trimmed for it's X-rated UK release!

Filmed back-to-back with The Plague of the Zombies, using the same sets and some of the same cast. An interesting film, perhaps not as perfectly paced as Plague, but a fine horror film. The cast is uniformly good, but Ripper's helpful innkeeper (probably his finest performance) and Laurie's madman are highlights. Maitland, as usual, makes the most of the stereotypical sinister Asian he always seemed to play. And Ashton's makeup, as mentioned above, is outstanding.