The Black Room
1935, English. Directed by Roy William Neill.
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...
- Runtime
- 1h 10m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.5/10 from 63 TMDB viewer ratings.
Seen it? Give your verdict.
Saved privately on this device.
Where to watch The Black Room
The Black Room isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it online.
Rent
Amazon VideoAvailability in India as of 10 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Roy William NeillDirector
- Boris KarloffBaron Gregor de Berghman / Anton de Berghman
- Marian MarshThea Hassel
- Robert AllenLt. Albert Lussan
- Thurston HallCol. Paul Hassel
- Katherine DeMilleMashka
- John BucklerBeran - the gypsy
- Henry KolkerBaron de Berghman
- Colin TapleyPaul Hassel as a young lieutenant
- Torben MeyerPeter, the majordomo
- John GeorgeInn Waiter (uncredited)
- John BleiferFranz - Captured Assassin-Villager (uncredited)
- Marion LessingMaria the Chambermaid
Details
- Released
- 15 July 1935
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Henry Myers, Arthur Strawn
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
If you liked The Black Room
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1939 · 7.1/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
Maniac
1963 · 6.2/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Uninvited
1944 · 6.9/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Son of Frankenstein
1939 · 6.7/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Night Walker
1964 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Z
2019 · 6.5/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Race with the Devil
1975 · 6.4/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
Pyewacket
2017 · 5.9/10
SnoozefestRecommended by TMDB viewers
Eye of the Devil
1966 · 6.1/10
Popcorn FlickRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Dark Mirror
1946 · 7.0/10
Worth the HypeRecommended by TMDB viewers
The Black Room: quick answers
Is The Black Room worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.5/10 from 63 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Black Room?
The Black Room runs 70 minutes (1h 10m).
Does The Black Room have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Black Room. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Black Room parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Black Room is rated NR in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is The Black Room on?
The Black Room isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it online. (Checked 10 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Black Room?
If you liked The Black Room, try The Hound of the Baskervilles, Maniac, The Uninvited.
Who directed The Black Room?
The Black Room (1935) was directed by Roy William Neill and stars Boris Karloff, Marian Marsh, Robert Allen.