The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Nicely plotted period horror tale that just goes to show the kind of talent that the legendary Boris Karloff possessed. As directed by Roy William Neill, it's great fun, with a fine supporting cast, an adequate pace, thunderous music, and respectable atmosphere. It leads to a solid action climax and a satisfying denouement. This may not be one of Karloffs' better known vehicles, but it does deserve more exposure.Karloff plays twin brothers (one good and one evil, naturally) who have a nasty family prophecy hanging over their heads, seemingly solved when a room inside their castle is sealed up. Also helping matters is the fact that Anton, the nice younger twin, travels the world for a while before being summoned home by his brother, a cruel despot who abuses his position of power. This leads to a great twist, but it won't be revealed here. Gregor, the evil twin, has his eye on beautiful young Thea (the radiant Marian Marsh), and intends to marry her despite the fact that she's already attached to another man, Lt. Lussan (Robert Allen), whom he frames for murder."The Black Room" does have its assets, but chief among them are the dual Karloff performances; he's superb at creating two very different personalities. His delicious villainy when he plays Gregor easily rivals his equally compelling turn in "The Body Snatcher" a decade later. Also doing creditable work are Thurston Hall, Katherine DeMille, John Buckler, and Henry Kolker. The dog, Thor, is great too.Highly recommended to Karloff fans.Eight out of 10.

Fans of Boris Karloff are in for double the pleasure with this early Columbia film. He portrays twin brothers, and though the good versus evil twin concept has been done before and since, Karloff gives it a neat twist based on legend and prophesy. With the titled 'Black Room' lending the picture a mysterious and frightful backdrop, an ancient curse proclaims that a younger brother will one day rise to slay the older. I thought it fairly clever that Gregor de Berghman would renounce his barony only to turn around and victimize poor Anton to remain in power and win over the lovely Thea Hassle (Marian Marsh). Gregor's dispatching of Anton lent new meaning to giving his brother the shaft, and for a while there, I was holding out hope that Anton would have survived his ordeal and found a way out of his predicament. But dead is dead as they say, and Gregor would soon enough get his. The fun was in trying to figure out how the younger Anton would eventually fulfill the ancient curse. There was nothing in the rule book that said he had to be alive to do it, which gave the picture an ironic and fitting conclusion.

I love Boris and in this movie he shines as the set of twins. I saw it for the first time last year. I recorded it and have watched it numerous times since. If you are his fan...this movie can not be missed. All the supporting actors are wonderful as well, and the beautiful Marion Marsh easy on the eyes. I knew Karloff was an under rated actor...But this movie proves it. Why more fuss was never made about this film, I just don't know. I will tell you I never saw the out come of this movie coming. Or maybe I just didn't want to spoil the shock for myself. Thank goodness for Halloween movies and TCM's airing of them or I would have caught this flick. Enjoy it, I know you will.

Boris Karloff plays dual roles in this very suspenseful and fun horror film. Twins are born with a curse on them. It is prophesied that the younger (by a few minutes) brother will kill the older. The Count becomes a horror to his subjects, using women and committing murder at will. The villagers have little to say; he has isolated themselves. In their forties the two are reunited when a plot is developed to seize land and combine two royal entities. The other factor is a beautiful young woman who the Count lusts after. She is the apple of her father's eye and loves a young lieutenant. Another significant entity in all this is the title "Black Room." It was bricked up because of the prophecy, but the Baron has built a death chamber in it for the disposing of bodies. He tosses them down a sort of well. The whole plot is quite good and the acting is excellent. Also, the suspense is very good because there is a need for the prophecy to be fulfilled. The screenplay and direction work very well and Karloff pulls off both roles to perfection. This is well worth the effort.