The Black Room backdrop
HORROR . 1935 . 1h 10m . 6.5/10

The Black Room_

"Dead or Alive... He could kill!"

In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so is dismayed when twins are born to the popular baron. The older grows to be a selfish, slovenly man, who inherits the castle at his father's death and becomes ruler over the formerly happy villagers. He enjoys his power until he learns his younger brother is returning from abroad and, afraid of the prophecy, he determines to murder his sibling, hide his body in the "black room" - an old torture chamber sealed away behind the fireplace - and then impersonate him, right down to his withered arm. In this way he hopes to not only avoid the prophecy, but also escape consequences of his other criminal deeds and obtain marriage to a local girl of the nobility...

Starring Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh, Robert Allen
6.5/10
Rating
1h 10m
Runtime
1935
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
The Black Room poster
Dead or Alive... He could kill!

In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so is dismayed when twins are born to the popular baron. The older grows to be a selfish, slovenly man, who inherits the castle at his father's death and becomes ruler over the formerly happy villagers. He enjoys his power until he learns his younger brother is returning from abroad and, afraid of the prophecy, he determines to murder his sibling, hide his body in the "black room" - an old torture chamber sealed away behind the fireplace - and then impersonate him, right down to his withered arm. In this way he hopes to not only avoid the prophecy, but also escape consequences of his other criminal deeds and obtain marriage to a local girl of the nobility...

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DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Cast
Boris Karloff stars as Baron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman in The Black Room.
Boris Karloff →
Year context
The Black Room was released 91 years ago in 1935.
Overview
In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so...
The Black Room is a Horror, Crime film with a runtime of 1h 10m.

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
70 min (1h 10m)
Country
Rating
6.5/10 (59 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The Black Room about?
In a 16th-century European town, the ruling family has been given a prophecy that, should there ever be twin boys born, the younger will murder the older; so is dismayed when twins are born to the popular baron. The older grows to be a selfish, slovenly man, who inherits the castle at his father's death and becomes ruler over the formerly happy villagers. He enjoys his power until he learns his younger brother is returning from abroad and, afraid of the prophecy, he determines to murder his sibling, hide his body in the "black room" - an old torture chamber sealed away behind the fireplace - and then impersonate him, right down to his withered arm. In this way he hopes to not only avoid the prophecy, but also escape consequences of his other criminal deeds and obtain marriage to a local girl of the nobility...
How long is The Black Room?
The Black Room has a runtime of 70 minutes (1h 10m).
Who stars in The Black Room?
The cast of The Black Room includes Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh, Robert Allen, Thurston Hall, Katherine DeMille.
What is the rating of The Black Room?
The Black Room has a rating of 6.5 out of 10 based on 59 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (2)

Horror Crime
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