Castle Freak

After inheriting a 12th-century castle which belonged to a famed Duchess in Italy, John Reilly, his wife Susan, and their blind teenage daughter Rebecca travel to Italy to visit. Susan blames John for the death of their five-year-old son in a drunk driving crash which also cost their daughter her eyesight. On the advice of the estate’s executor, the three plan to stay at the castle until they can liquidate the estate. Unbeknownst to them, the Duchess’ son, Giorgio Orsino, who was imprisoned and tortured by the Duchess, still lives in the dungeons of the castle.

After killing and eating a cat, the disfigured Giorgio escapes by breaking off his own thumb to get out of the manacles which bind him. Giorgio begins to roam the castle, prowling around the bedroom of the terrified Rebecca. When she claims there is someone else in the house, John believes her, but Susan does not. John, still wracked with guilt about the death of his son, turns to drinking alcohol and hires a prostitute who doesn’t speak English from the nearby town, angering Susan further for cheating. As she leaves the castle, the prostitute is ambushed and horribly mutilated by Giorgio. The maid discovers the still-living prostitute before she herself is murdered. Susan plans to leave with Rebecca, but the police order them to stay while they investigate the missing prostitute.

John learns that Giorgio is his half-brother and that the Duchess was his father’s first wife. The Duchess chained Giorgio up and tortured him all of his life out of spite because her husband abandoned her and their son for her sister (John’s mother) and went to America. The police arrest John upon discovering the bodies of the maid and the prostitute. Susan and Rebecca stay the night in the castle, praying together for forgiveness for John. Giorgio kills two policemen, then abducts Rebecca and chains her up in his cell. Susan learns of Giorgio’s weakness and seduces him. This distracts Giorgio long enough for Susan to rescue her daughter and stab Giorgio, making him angry, causing him to chase Susan and Rebecca up to the castle’s roof. Determined to save his family, John escapes the police station after a fight with a policeman. He returns to the castle, for a final confrontation with Giorgio. He sacrifices his own life to pull Giorgio off the roof and kill him as well. Susan tearfully forgives John and they reaffirm their love as he dies. The son of the prostitute is seen with the policeman (who is the boy’s father) at John’s funeral.

Last Updated: September 09, 2025 at 10:56