Castle of Otranto (film)

Plot

Jaroslav Vozáb is convinced that the novel The Castle of Otranto is rooted in real events, so he sets out to find the actual location. He notices that the ruins of the Czech Castle Otrhany share features with the castle described in the book, leading him to conclude that Otrhany is the place he is looking for. A television reporter named Miroslav Frýba speaks with Vozáb, who explains his findings and recounts the story from the novel. The book’s plot is shown through animation created by Xenie Vavreckova.

It begins with Conrad, Lord Manfred’s son, being killed by a giant helmet on his way to marry Isabela. Manfred, upset at losing his only heir, decides to wed Isabela himself. She is horrified and runs away. Manfred chases her but is blocked by a giant knight, and Theodore saves Isabela.

Manfred locks Theodore up, and Isabela goes into hiding. A knight from another kingdom arrives at Otranto Castle, intending to bring Isabela back. Theodore is freed by Manfred’s daughter Matilda, who loves him but is upset that he loves Isabela. Theodore finds Isabela hiding in a cave in the mountains.

There he meets the knight, and they fight over Isabela. Theodore wins, but the knight turns out to be Isabela’s father, Frederic. Frederic is treated at Otranto Castle while Theodore hides in a forest. Manfred suggests a deal: he and Frederic will each marry the other’s daughter.

Frederic goes to propose to Matilda but is stopped by the giant knight, realizes his mistake, and decides not to marry Matilda or give Isabela to Manfred. Manfred, furious, tries to kill Isabela but accidentally kills his own daughter instead. The giant knight then destroys the castle and kills Manfred. Theodore and Isabela end up together.

After Vozáb finishes speaking, Frýba starts to doubt whether supernatural events could be real, but then grit and pieces of stone fall from the castle, and the giant knight’s hand, played by Karel Chocholin, appears on top of a tower as the film ends.