London’s antique underbelly gets a blood-soaked offering to a vengeful African idol.
CRAZE
WHERE BLACK MAGIC EXPLODES INTO MURDER!
A nutty London antiques dealer lures women for sacrifice to his infernal idol, Chuku, an African idol.
Quick Answer
Craze is a 1974 United Kingdom crime horror film directed by Freddie Francis about a deranged London antiques dealer who conducts human sacrifices to the African god Chuku in pursuit of wealth and power.
Programmer's Pick
Jack Palance gnaws the scenery as a crazed antique dealer with a flair for ritual murder, all in the service of a very demanding idol. Where else can you find murder by fright mask and a cult god named Chuku in the same London shop window?
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This film marks the final production by Herman Cohen, capping his career in genre filmmaking, and adapts Henry Seymour's 1967 novel The Infernal Idol.
Cast & Crew
View all →
Why Cult
The film sets ritual murder and supernatural obsession against the foggy, underlit backdrop of London’s antique trade.
At the film’s dark heart is Chuku, an African idol demanding inventive and grisly sacrifices from its acolyte.
From impalement to scare tactics involving masks, the dealer’s approach to human sacrifice is as creative as it is deadly.
Jack Palance delivers an unhinged turn as Neal Mottram, blending menace with theatrical zeal.
Scene Gallery
Threat File
Antique dealer's nightly rituals
African idol Chuku's supernatural demands
Victims lured and sacrificed using creative violence
London antique shop
Questions from the Vault
Who directed Craze? +
Craze was directed by Freddie Francis.
How long is Craze? +
Craze has a runtime of 96 minutes.
What genre is Craze? +
Craze is a crime and horror film.
Where can I watch Craze? +
Craze is available to stream on SassyFlix.
What is Chuku and why does the dealer sacrifice to it? +
Chuku is an African idol that the antiques dealer believes will grant him wealth and power in exchange for human sacrifices.
