Respected surgeon Dr. Bernard Hichcock (Flemying) is secretly a creepy necrophile who enjoys giving his wife Margherita (Vianello) poisonous injections that simulate death. (Hey, whatever gets you through the night...)

But Hichcock is devastated when one of his death games goes wrong and poor Margherita dies! oops.

The bad doctor spends years grieving his wife's demise, but ultimately decides to remarry, this time to lovely young Cynthia (Steele).

The two try to begin a new life together, but it's not long before Hichcock's warped desires rise to the surface again.

The main problem? Cynthia is much too alive to satisfy her husband's preference for a little 'corpse lovin'...and so she must DIE!

Highly atmospheric and beautifully directed by Freda, this terror gem is a must see not just for Italian horror buffs but for genre fans in general.

Flemying is terrific as the mad Hichcock, while Steele delivers an equally good straight performance as his tortured wife.

Cynthia's notorious 'buried alive' scene is stunning to watch and hits too close for comfort, but it's nicely done and clearly ranks as one of the best sequences here.

Italian title: L'Orribile segreto del Dr. Hichcock.

Also known as The Terrible Dr. Hichcock.

The following year, Freda delivered the semi sequel The Ghost (1963).