Diary of a Madman (1963)

1960s, Paranormal, Thriller/Mystery,

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Following the funeral of Simon Cordier (Vincent Price), a French magistrate and amateur sculptor, his secret diary is read out by Simon's pastor friend to a group of people gathered around the table – the pastor's daughter, an elderly couple, and an Army Captain. The diary transpires that Simon has come into contact with a malevolent entity. The invisible - yet corporeal - being, called a "horla" is capable of limited psychokinesis and complete mind control. Cordier first interacts with the horla when he meets a prisoner whom the horla drove to commit murder. The horla possesses the inmate and attempts to kill Cordier, who in self-defense accidentally kills the man. The magistrate inherits the prisoner's troubles as the horla turns its hauntings toward him. As the horla begins to destroy Cordier's life, he fears he is going mad and seeks help from a psychologist, who effectively suggests a hobby. Cordier chooses to pick up his old interest in art, meeting a model along the way. The horla insists the model is not the charming jewel that Cordier sees, but instead a conniving gold digger, and compels Cordier to treat her as such. This sets up a conflict in Cordier, that he might not be the astute judge of character that his title indicates. As his and others' lives are put in jeopardy, he becomes convinced of the horla's existence and decides drastic measures are needed to end the horla's evil. He lures the horla into his house at night. When his presence is felt, Simon hurls an oil lamp towards the curatins, slowly setting the house ablaze. At last Simon succeeds in ridding the horla, but not without sacrificing himself, as the house burns in flames. The film concludes with the people seated round the table agreeing that so long as the horla – which they believe to be a figment of Simon's imagination – exists in the hearts of Man, evil will prevail. Thus, the horla is viewed as a metaphor of evil.

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