The Tingler

film by Castle [1959]

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July 20, 2026

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The Tingler is a 1959 American horror film directed by William Castle. Castle was known for his innovative marketing techniques for his B-horror movies. The film stars Vincent Price as a scientist who discovers a parasitic creature called the Tingler that feeds on people's fear. To combat the creature, the audience is instructed to scream, as the Tingler is destroyed by fear. Castle employed a gimmick called "Percepto," which involved electric buzzers under some seats to simulate the Tingler's effect on moviegoers.1

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William Castle
King of the Gimmick
The Tingler (1959), a clever tale about the nature of fear, had “Percepto,” in which electric buzzers were wired under selected patrons’ seats; star Price instructed the audience from the screen that they had to scream if the parasitic Tingler was to be destroyed. For…
Read More
The Tingler (1959), a clever tale about the nature of fear, had “Percepto,” in which electric buzzers were wired under selected patrons’ seats; star Price instructed the audience from the screen that they had to scream if the parasitic Tingler was to be destroyed. For…
Read More