Karloff is on the Case to Reveal the Real "Haunted Strangler"- Tonight!

Posted on January 29, 2022

Tonight on MeTV- we have an eerie tale from a little later in the great Boris Karloff’s career- where he portrays a man out to prove the innocence of a man executed for murder- not realizing that discovering the knife used for the killings will have a devastating effect on his own self! Victorian London soon finds itself fearful of the “Haunted Strangler”!

In this 1958 chiller, we witness the hanging of the man dubbed the “Haymarket Strangler”, one Edward Styles, accused of the brutal murder of five women. As an indifferent and jeering crowd observe his final moments, he claims he is innocent- to no avail.

Twenty years later- a distinguished social reformer and author, James Rankin, after some research, feels that Styles was indeed innocent, and begins his quest to prove it! He enlists his assistant, young Dr. McColl, who also, unbeknownst to Rankin, is in love with his daughter, Lily, and the two begin to search for clues. One curious fact- Dr. Tennent who did the autopsies on all the victims was involved in a scandal and disappeared- as did the knife used to commit the horrible acts. Rankin thinks that knife could reveal a great deal, and sets out to find it- and possibly the whereabouts of the missing Tennent.

His obsession with the case begins to worry everyone, including his wife Barbara, and begins to anger police superintendent Burk. Rankin tracks down witnesses, including one of the showgirls at a seedy nightspot known as the Judas Hole, where the strangler trolled for victims. Tracking down the missing knife, he resorts to illegal activities including bribery- but he does finally find the knife!

However, when Rankin touches the knife- he seems possessed! He undergoes a physical transformation with all the features attributed to the Haymarket Strangler- and, even worse, sets out in search of new victims! More secrets are revealed- and more murders have the populace afraid that the Strangler has returned!

It's interesting to see Karloff, even later in his career as a senior citizen, still proving his great skills, not just as a horror star, but as an actor. It’s amazing that his transformation into the killer was pulled off with NO horror make-up whatsoever! We’ll talk about that, about the actors in this film, and more- plus, provide a new twist on a famous character who talked to the animals, do a song that plays off some of the dancing at the Judas Hole, and present a special interview with an actress who has dealt with more modern killers in movies- but is also a fine comic actress.

We do want to caution more sensitive viewers that there are moments of violence in this film that may be upsetting to some- and we once again ask our commenters to refrain from any spoilers- so as not to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of this movie- and that includes showing respect to those who watch the show in the pacific time zone.

“Haunted Strangler” starts to prowl the airwaves tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 7 central time. We continue to be among the higher trending topics on Twitter during the show, thanks to the live Tweets by our viewers, using the hashtag #svengoolie -and MeTV invites you to join in. Our Chicago area audience will get another chance to marvel at Ray Harryhausen’s stop motion artistry in “Earth VS the Flying Saucers” at 11 am on our main local station, CW26.

Be watching for some seasonal Sven merchandise in our store!

Join us tonight for Karloff- still monstrous after all those years!

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

4099 Comments

 during show

CarrieCastro 33 months ago
How about that ha ha
it's Anniversary Day on Toons too 😄⚘
CarrieCastro 33 months ago
Today 🌷 Jess and I
will celebrate our 43rd
Anniversary 🎉
What a journey it has been ♥️

Out to dinner looking forward to it⚘
DrFish28136 34 months ago


Kirk Hammett of Metallica has been collected horror since age 6. This is the cover of his book.
MADave 34 months ago
My cat AJ is actually at the end of my bed watching MEtv with me he's such a good boy !
MADave MADave 34 months ago
I guess I spoke too soon now he's sound asleep
MADave 34 months ago
Regarding tomorrow night's movie IT is new to me
Katink MADave 34 months ago
IT is new to me, too, MADave!
Mikeyyy 34 months ago
Congrats to whoever is IT at midnight!
daleuhlmann 34 months ago
I had mentioned earlier Eugene Chantrelle, the Frenchman who had may have inspired by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, would poison his victims with opium-laced toasted cheese. Well, what had I had for lunch earlier before I had found that information? A toasted cheese sandwich (minus the opium, of course!).
Jack daleuhlmann 34 months ago
Should’ve had it on a poppy-seed roll!
Kyle daleuhlmann 34 months ago
Lack of opium in the diet is the leading cause of stress.
Stress is a leading cause of heart disease.
Heart disease is a leading cause of death.

Just saying...
abc123 34 months ago
In honor of the Monster in this weeks movie, I made my chocolate covered "Monster Popcorn" (popcorn, gummie bears, red licorice, and diced Kit-Kat bar) again. And will still have some leftovers for the week after.
Aceman2 abc123 34 months ago
Mmm Mmm Good
Mmm Mmm Good
That’s what Monster Popcorn is
Mmm Mmm Good

Enjoy
Aceman2 34 months ago
Marketing ideas provided to theaters in the Press Book
Aceman2 Aceman2 34 months ago
Some of these sound like Sven gags.
Aceman2 34 months ago
Wonder if MeTV could pull off a double feature as proposed by Zombo of ZombosCloset.com

“Double Bill Pressbook:
IT! The Terror From Beyond Space
and Curse of the Faceless Man
Two of my favorite horror movies with all the 1950s matinee flair you could muster. I would love to see this on a midnight double bill with a Three Stooges short.”
Jack Aceman2 34 months ago
Since I tend to read the comments newest first, I’ve already read the ballyhoo from the pressbook 12 minutes ago. This earlier post answered my question: Yes, you did see the double bill pressbook at Zombo’s Closet! Great minds etc., etc.
Jack 34 months ago
Re: Svengoolie Valentine Merch

Great Crom! This month Dynamite Comics publishes the _Red Sonja Valentine Special_. Last year it was a one-shot, this year it’s a tradition. Marking the cover of this year’s special is an anatomical human heart—just like last year’s, that’s what makes it a tradition!

Tying in with yesterday’s topic of drinking from the skulls of your fallen enemies, there is also a variant cosplay cover, with the model clutching such a chalice. I’m going to dodge complaints by not posting either cover, but if you want to see the skull chalice and anatomical heart, it’s at:

https://dynamite.com/previews/C72513031644801011/RSValentine01031CCosplay.jpg
Kyle Jack 34 months ago
I'll take "THINGS I DIDN'T KNOW I NEEDED" for 1000, Alex.
PatS 34 months ago
There's a review of a brand-new movie, MOONFALL, calling it "Gloriously, Splendidly Stupid." I'm guessing that could apply to more than one Sven movie (with or without space travel) -- and yet they're still fun to watch. Keep an eye on MOONFALL; I suspect it will reinforce that Hollywood would rather have a good yarn than fact-check.
Drang PatS 34 months ago
Sorry, but a movie that wud have us believe that the moon could fall out of the sky would require not just a willing suspension of disbelief, but hanging disbelief by the neck until it is dead, dead, dead.
In fact, we may be well into drawing and quartering disbelief.
In fact,
PatS Drang 34 months ago
You may be right, Drang. Reviews say there are even more unbelievable fictions in MOONFALL, not to mention the deadpan acting and overdone effects. Reminds me of the cops warning people about the giant rabbits in NIGHT OF THE LEPUS -- how could they possibly say those lines without cracking up? BWAA-HA-HA... As with a lot of sci-fi (written or on film), you kinda hafta go with their rules or you might as well not watch.
Aceman2 34 months ago
I have company.
Load previous comments
KeithJ Aceman2 34 months ago
D'oh! A deer, a female deer...
Katink KeithJ 34 months ago
Ray, a drop of golden sun 🎶🎵🎶
Aceman2 Aceman2 34 months ago
All of you had me smiling today. I appreciate all of you
FKrueger KeithJ 34 months ago
[image=https://weigel-comments.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/Pqop4-1644035075-download (1).gif]
MrsG 34 months ago
Oh yeah , just caught IT!
The WT episode with Chuck Connors on now ~ MeTV therapy !
*_*
DrFish28136 34 months ago
[image=https://weigel-comments.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/8zTYp-1644009758]
Klaatu DrFish28136 34 months ago
And what’s the old saying?…Here I sit in fumes and vapor, the alien before me used all the paper.😳
Jack DrFish28136 34 months ago
I’ve always wondered about the facilities on the _Enterprise_ when they took on alien ambassadors and passengers, and especially after Star Fleet became more inclusive.
Drang Jack 34 months ago
A small transporter to send waste directly to the matter/anti-matter converters, and a small holo-suite to make it seem comfy and home-like.
MADave 34 months ago
Aceman2 got his trophy 🏆 for the 4000th comment my bets are on him for the blog change later tonight
Aceman2 MADave 34 months ago
Thanks MADave but I have been scratched from the race by my trainer.

MrsG Aceman2 34 months ago
Uh oh ~ DQ or IR ?
How are You coping with the IT! TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE SPACE II , SCIATICA ?
Thinking about You going through IT! too Aceman ~ not much relief here yet ~ oh poo !
•_•
Aceman2 MrsG 34 months ago
I’m DQ’d for using 2 drugs to treat sciatica. They are already giving me some relief but making me loopy; that is to say loopier than normal for me
MrsG Aceman2 34 months ago
Teehee ~ there’s one of my favorite kinds of loopy ~ and , loopy loves company !
Praying for special dose of SvenRelief mañana !
~_~
DrFish28136 34 months ago
[image=https://weigel-comments.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/cCxbl-1644007286]
Aceman2 34 months ago
A quote for those of you with snow.

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again." -- Lewis Carroll
MADave Aceman2 34 months ago
Thanks for that Aceman2
PatS Aceman2 34 months ago
Elinor Wylie wrote a poem, "Velvet Shoes", which begins "Let us walk in the white snow..." Imagining a tranquil walk through falling snow, in a soundless little town. Not quite the mood most of us have about trying to get through this stuff. Though the quiet can be a welcome change.
daleuhlmann Aceman2 34 months ago
Lovely quote, Aceman!
Aceman2 daleuhlmann 34 months ago
Thank you Dale.
Katink Aceman2 34 months ago
Such lovely snow verses! PatS is right. We need to be reminded of the beauty and magic, which isn't my usual reaction to more of the white stuff. ❄❄❄
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?