The film begins with gangster Dickie (Stander) pushing his broken-down car through rising seawater while his companion Albie (MacGowran) lies inside, bleeding from a gunshot wound after a bungled robbery. Cut off by the unexpected rising tide, they are on the only road to a bleak and remote tidal island where, in a dark castle on a hilltop, the effeminate and neurotic George (Pleasence) lives with his luscious young wife Teresa (Dorléac). Dickie then proceeds to hold the two hostage while awaiting rescue by his boss, the mysterious Katelbach, even throughout an unexpected visit from one of George's old work colleagues.WIKIPEDIA
