Beast of Morocco
Beginning with a confusing dream that, as we later learn, was part premonition, Paul Carver (William Sylvester) awakes from his nightmare on a flight to Morocco, seated next to an archaeologists, Dr.…
Beast of Morocco
Beginning with a confusing dream that, as we later learn, was part premonition, Paul Carver (William Sylvester) awakes from his nightmare on a flight to Morocco, seated next to an archaeologists, Dr. Otto Gunther (Edward Underdown). Carver is racked with guilt over the death of his wife and children in a car accident (as seen in his dream) for which he believes he may be responsible. Upon his arrival in Morocco, Carver goes to see a doctor at a clinic, only to learn that the doctor in question has recently died (it's never made clear what the purpose of his visit was, but the film hints that Carver may have been seeking the doctor's assistance in taking his own life). While trying to drown his sorrows at a bar, Dr. Gunther's address falls from his pocket, so Carver decides to find Gunther's home, despite it being night-time and Gunther's house being located in the old (read 'dangerous') part of the city. Stumbling along narrow, vacant lanes, Carver encounters a mysterious Arab named Omar (Terence de Marney), who speaks to him in riddles about the night, only to disappear. Carver arrives at Dr. Gunther's home in the midst of a party. While waiting in the foyer, Carver is attracted to a ring with a brilliant gemstone that he places on his finger, and then notices a beautiful and mysterious woman coming down the stairs, who we later learn is named Marisa (Alizia Gur). Dr. Gunther introduces Carver to his pretty young assistant, Chantal (Diane Clare). Chantal learns of Carver's recent tragic loss, but, instead of expressing sympathy, Chantal challenges Carver to snap out of his depression (later in the film Dr. Gunther explains to Carver that Chantal, too, had recently lost a loved one, Gunther's son who was Chantal's fiance). Carver remains curious about Marisa, the woman he saw earlier, and his curiousity is further aroused by fleeting glimpses of what seem to be Marisa during the party. Dr. Gunther invites his guests to come with him to see some of his most recent finds from an excavation he is involved in regarding a medieval Moorish royal tomb. Carver chooses to remain behind in the enclosed garden, where, alone, he encounters Marisa who, like Omar, speaks to him in riddles about the night. Marisa disappears and, when the rear gate of the garden swings open, Carver exits, following various signs (puffs of colored smoke, a veil blowing in the wind, etc...) out of the city and into the desert to an abandoned medieval palace. Entering an empty room, he encounters Omar who, upon repeating that the night can hide beauty as well as ugliness, claps his hands and the room is transformed: bright and new, filled with colorful tapestries and pillows on the floor, Carver sees Marisa lying enticingly on a couch and joins her, while a troop of dancing girls entertain them. Noticing the light from the ring on his finger, Marisa tears it off and throws it in the corner, but the light emitted by the gemstone on the ring continues to terrify both Marisa and Omar, who recoil in fear. Carver rises from the couch and, amidst the dancing girls, collapses on the floor. The following morning, while driving to their excavation site, Chantal and Dr. Gunther spot Carver lying unconscious in the desert outside of the abandoned palace and take him to the site of their dig. Needless to say, neither of them believe his story, Chantal dismissing it as a result of a combination of too much to drink and Carver's apparent death-wish. Chantal drives him to the abandoned palace in order to prove that what he described couldn't possibly have happened. Carver enters the room, which has returned to its state of desolation, but finds the ring in the corner where Marisa threw it. When he returns to Dr. Gunther's archaeological site, Gunther tells Carver that the ring was considered to be a talisman, used to ward away evil spirits. He explains that in ancient times a philosophy that originated in Persia took root in Morocco that taught that the world, both seen and unseen, was divided into good and bad, corresponding to light and darkness, day and night, and that the forces of these two sides were in a constant struggle, in which, sometimes, darkness prevailed (this 'philosophy' is actually the ancient Persian religion of 'Zoroastrianism', which was nearly wiped out by the Islamic conquest of Iran). That night, Carver returns to the palace, where he finds the the dead bodies of the dancing girls chained to the columns in the room. Omar appears and explains that this is what happens to those who offend 'The Servants of the Night'. Once again the room turns bright and new, with the dancing girls' bodies gone and Marisa on her couch. Carver joins her and they make love. The following day at the archaeological site, Chantal is upset by what she sees as Carver's macabre obsession with death and the night, embodied in what she believes is an imaginary figure, Marisa. She obviously has feelings for him, but doesn't know how to 'rescue' him. Gunther recommends that Chantal take Carver to the seaside, to get away from the abandoned palace and spend some time together, which she does. Intitially this seems to work, as they enjoy swimming in the ocean together. But Carver remains divided over his attraction to Chantal and his obsession with Marisa. During a shopping excursion in a bazaar, Carver sees a tapestry with Marisa's portrrait woven into it and is told by one of Dr. Gunther's colleagues, Dr. Leclerc (William Dexter) that it is a famous pattern that originated with a Princess named Marisa. It seems that the Princess Marisa was discovered to have been unfaithful and, as a punishment, was entombed alive by her husband. She instructed one of her loyal servants to strangle her husband in revenge, but he was caught and also buried alive with his mistress. Before her burial, Marisa swore vengence upon all men, whom she threatened to make her slaves. Dr. Leclerc informs Carver that, by coincidence, it is the Princess Marissa's tomb that he and Dr. Gunther have uncovered. With the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fall into place, Carver returns to the city, and Chantal follows. Chantal confronts Gunther, who now seems to believe that Marisa may be more than a figment of Carver's imagination. Determined to uncover the truth, Chantal arrives at the excavation site just as the sun is setting and enters the tomb. As she struggles to open the lid of Marisa's sarcophagus, Omar appears behind her and grabs her. Seeking to eliminate her rival for Carver's affections, Marisa instructs Omar to carry Chantal out into the desert where she will be a 'sacrifice to the sun' (that is, die of heat and thirst). Carver, learning that Chantal has disappeared, returns once more to the abandoned palace to confront Marisa. He now knows who and what she is and demands that she leave Chantal alone. Marisa tells Carver that Omar has taken Chantal out into the desert to die. She asks Carver who he really loves, Chantal or herself, the light or the darkness? Carver claims that he has chosen Chantal and that he doesn't love Marisa, but Marisa responds that she knows Carver better than he knows himself, stating that he is, in his heart-of-hearts, of the darkness. One of Marisa's servants knocks Carver unconscious and Marisa seizes the ring, which she smashes with a rock. Dr. Gunther arrives outside the palace in hopes of finding either Chantal or Carver. Carver explains that they must find where Omar has taken Chantal before it's too late. They drive out into the desert and spot Omar, who is tying an unconscious Chantal to some rocks. Carver attempts to fight Omar, but he's impervious to his blows until Dr. Gunther shines his flashlight in Omar's face, leading Omar to flee. Helping Chantal into the landrover, they pursue Omar, who is seeking to reach the safety of the tomb while the sun rises in the sky, only to disolve into a skeleton just short of his goal. Carver enters Marisa's tomb, but before he can drive a stake into her heart, Marisa states that, like it or not, she and Carver are of the dark and, as such, were meant to be together. Nevertheless, Carver hammers a stake into Marisa, whose body deteriorates into a skeleton. In a scene identical to one in his nightmare at the beginning of the film, Carver has to tear away Marisa's skeletal hand to free his own. Leaving the tomb, Carver slowly walks away from the archaeological site, mumbling to himself. Chantal, confused, asks Gunther what has happened. Gunther replies that "He used to say always that he had cheated death. I think perhaps after all that it is death that has cheated him." [Synopsis by Paul V. Walsh]
Beast of Morocco
Horror,Mystery
Film Details
Beginning with a confusing dream that, as we later learn, was part premonition, Paul Carver (William Sylvester) awakes from his nightmare on a flight to Morocco, seated next to an archaeologists, Dr. Otto Gunther (Edward Underdown). Carver is racked with guilt over the death of his wife and children in a car accident (as seen in his dream) for which he believes he may be responsible.
Upon his arrival in Morocco, Carver goes to see a doctor at a clinic, only to learn that the doctor in question has recently died (it's never made clear what the purpose of his visit was, but the film hints that Carver may have been seeking the doctor's assistance in taking his own life). While trying to drown his sorrows at a bar, Dr. Gunther's address falls from his pocket, so Carver decides to find Gunther's home, despite it being night-time and Gunther's house being located in the old (read 'dangerous') part of the city.
Stumbling along narrow, vacant lanes, Carver encounters a mysterious Arab named Omar (Terence de Marney), who speaks to him in riddles about the night, only to disappear. Carver arrives at Dr. Gunther's home in the midst of a party.
While waiting in the foyer, Carver is attracted to a ring with a brilliant gemstone that he places on his finger, and then notices a beautiful and mysterious woman coming down the stairs, who we later learn is named Marisa (Alizia Gur). Dr. Gunther introduces Carver to his pretty young assistant, Chantal (Diane Clare).
Chantal learns of Carver's recent tragic loss, but, instead of expressing sympathy, Chantal challenges Carver to snap out of his depression (later in the film Dr. Gunther explains to Carver that Chantal, too, had recently lost a loved one, Gunther's son who was Chantal's fiance). Carver remains curious about Marisa, the woman he saw earlier, and his curiousity is further aroused by fleeting glimpses of what seem to be Marisa during the party.
Dr. Gunther invites his guests to come with him to see some of his most recent finds from an excavation he is involved in regarding a medieval Moorish royal tomb. Carver chooses to remain behind in the enclosed garden, where, alone, he encounters Marisa who, like Omar, speaks to him in riddles about the night.
Marisa disappears and, when the rear gate of the garden swings open, Carver exits, following various signs (puffs of colored smoke, a veil blowing in the wind, etc...) out of the city and into the desert to an abandoned medieval palace. Entering an empty room, he encounters Omar who, upon repeating that the night can hide beauty as well as ugliness, claps his hands and the room is transformed: bright and new, filled with colorful tapestries and pillows on the floor, Carver sees Marisa lying enticingly on a couch and joins her, while a troop of dancing girls entertain them. Noticing the light from the ring on his finger, Marisa tears it off and throws it in the corner, but the light emitted by the gemstone on the ring continues to terrify both Marisa and Omar, who recoil in fear.
Carver rises from the couch and, amidst the dancing girls, collapses on the floor. The following morning, while driving to their excavation site, Chantal and Dr. Gunther spot Carver lying unconscious in the desert outside of the abandoned palace and take him to the site of their dig.
Needless to say, neither of them believe his story, Chantal dismissing it as a result of a combination of too much to drink and Carver's apparent death-wish. Chantal drives him to the abandoned palace in order to prove that what he described couldn't possibly have happened. Carver enters the room, which has returned to its state of desolation, but finds the ring in the corner where Marisa threw it.
When he returns to Dr. Gunther's archaeological site, Gunther tells Carver that the ring was considered to be a talisman, used to ward away evil spirits. He explains that in ancient times a philosophy that originated in Persia took root in Morocco that taught that the world, both seen and unseen, was divided into good and bad, corresponding to light and darkness, day and night, and that the forces of these two sides were in a constant struggle, in which, sometimes, darkness prevailed (this 'philosophy' is actually the ancient Persian religion of 'Zoroastrianism', which was nearly wiped out by the Islamic conquest of Iran).
That night, Carver returns to the palace, where he finds the the dead bodies of the dancing girls chained to the columns in the room. Omar appears and explains that this is what happens to those who offend 'The Servants of the Night'. Once again the room turns bright and new, with the dancing girls' bodies gone and Marisa on her couch.
Carver joins her and they make love. The following day at the archaeological site, Chantal is upset by what she sees as Carver's macabre obsession with death and the night, embodied in what she believes is an imaginary figure, Marisa. She obviously has feelings for him, but doesn't know how to 'rescue' him.
Gunther recommends that Chantal take Carver to the seaside, to get away from the abandoned palace and spend some time together, which she does. Intitially this seems to work, as they enjoy swimming in the ocean together. But Carver remains divided over his attraction to Chantal and his obsession with Marisa.
During a shopping excursion in a bazaar, Carver sees a tapestry with Marisa's portrrait woven into it and is told by one of Dr. Gunther's colleagues, Dr. Leclerc (William Dexter) that it is a famous pattern that originated with a Princess named Marisa.
It seems that the Princess Marisa was discovered to have been unfaithful and, as a punishment, was entombed alive by her husband. She instructed one of her loyal servants to strangle her husband in revenge, but he was caught and also buried alive with his mistress. Before her burial, Marisa swore vengence upon all men, whom she threatened to make her slaves.
Dr. Leclerc informs Carver that, by coincidence, it is the Princess Marissa's tomb that he and Dr. Gunther have uncovered.
With the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fall into place, Carver returns to the city, and Chantal follows. Chantal confronts Gunther, who now seems to believe that Marisa may be more than a figment of Carver's imagination. Determined to uncover the truth, Chantal arrives at the excavation site just as the sun is setting and enters the tomb.
As she struggles to open the lid of Marisa's sarcophagus, Omar appears behind her and grabs her. Seeking to eliminate her rival for Carver's affections, Marisa instructs Omar to carry Chantal out into the desert where she will be a 'sacrifice to the sun' (that is, die of heat and thirst). Carver, learning that Chantal has disappeared, returns once more to the abandoned palace to confront Marisa.
He now knows who and what she is and demands that she leave Chantal alone. Marisa tells Carver that Omar has taken Chantal out into the desert to die. She asks Carver who he really loves, Chantal or herself, the light or the darkness? Carver claims that he has chosen Chantal and that he doesn't love Marisa, but Marisa responds that she knows Carver better than he knows himself, stating that he is, in his heart-of-hearts, of the darkness.
One of Marisa's servants knocks Carver unconscious and Marisa seizes the ring, which she smashes with a rock. Dr. Gunther arrives outside the palace in hopes of finding either Chantal or Carver.
Carver explains that they must find where Omar has taken Chantal before it's too late. They drive out into the desert and spot Omar, who is tying an unconscious Chantal to some rocks. Carver attempts to fight Omar, but he's impervious to his blows until Dr.
Gunther shines his flashlight in Omar's face, leading Omar to flee. Helping Chantal into the landrover, they pursue Omar, who is seeking to reach the safety of the tomb while the sun rises in the sky, only to disolve into a skeleton just short of his goal. Carver enters Marisa's tomb, but before he can drive a stake into her heart, Marisa states that, like it or not, she and Carver are of the dark and, as such, were meant to be together.
Nevertheless, Carver hammers a stake into Marisa, whose body deteriorates into a skeleton. In a scene identical to one in his nightmare at the beginning of the film, Carver has to tear away Marisa's skeletal hand to free his own. Leaving the tomb, Carver slowly walks away from the archaeological site, mumbling to himself.
Chantal, confused, asks Gunther what has happened. Gunther replies that "He used to say always that he had cheated death. I think perhaps after all that it is death that has cheated him." [Synopsis by Paul V.
Walsh].