Lurid
This is what I remember when I saw it in the 50's and it still holds up as compelling-and, dare I say, Lurid.
Wonderful cast and somewhat restrained where I could see it go "over the top" but it doesn't. Ex: where Fritz drools over the corpse and the suggestion given is sufficient. Hammer is intelligent in so many ways !
Outstanding Cushing performance and Gwynne deserves high marks.
Durable sequel which rivals the original '57 classic. And that is saying something; hooray for the masterful Terence Fisher !