1963's "Pyro" is a Spanish title known as "Fuego" (Fire) in Spain, more broadly known as "Pyro - The Thing Without a Face" or "Pyro - Man Without a Face," or "Phantom of the Ferris Wheel" (its most appropriate moniker). Producer Sidney W. Pink, previous purveyor of "The Angry Red Planet," "Reptilicus," and "Journey to the Seventh Planet," first conceived of the script as "A Cold Wind from Hell" (this would be his favorite film), AIP once more footing the bill for international production, their contract star Vincent Price up for the role of Vance Pierson shortly after his visit to freezing Rome for "The Last Man on Earth." Perhaps his busy Hollywood schedule resulted in a casting change that enabled Barry Sullivan to accept, not so charismatic but playing a part that requires as much with at least three potential female lovers on hand. Despite being advertised as a horror film (and a flop in the US), the picture certainly doesn't play out that way, the carnival music opening showing us Pierson's family life coinciding with his engineering work, requiring him to move to Spain to begin construction of a circular generator (he displays a passion for all things round). While searching for suitable accommodations he comes upon an estate that looks promising, only its pyromaniac owner, supposed widow Laura Blanco (Martha Hyer), already has a full proof plan devised to burn the whole thing down to collect the insurance money. Before you can even perceive 'playing with fire,' he's falling into bed with this crazy pyromaniac mother, a literally burning affair that goes on for five months, to the obvious consternation of Pierson's wife (Sherry Moreland) and daughter (Pilarin Gomez). He rationalizes all of this to his own, self involved satisfaction: "my home has always been too peaceful, home sweet home, you are war...as long as we keep peace at home, I'll be needing violence!" Careful what you wish for Vance, because once you decide to end this relationship, your firebug playmate just won't take it lying down, replaying her original intention to now torch the house with his wife and child asleep inside. Setting out on a business meeting before a proper reconciliation, his partner wisely turns back, only too late to save the deceased, poor Vance forced to leap from his bedroom window completely engulfed in flames that produce fourth degree burns that no surgeon can restore to normalcy (shades of Peter Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask"). Why Laura isn't immediately arrested and put away goes unexplained, her impromptu visit to him at the hospital allowing him the opportunity to swear vengeance by doing to her family what she did to his, after which he vanishes for 15 months. Reports of Laura's mother and maid perishing in a fire have authorities wondering if Pierson is beginning to make good on his threat, now posing as all around mechanic Peter, moving all about as part owner of a traveling carnival where he manages the ferris wheel with help from his partner's daughter Liz Frade (Soledad Miranda). How his human mask closely resembles his former features, and why none of the investigators recognize him is also a mystery, but he does locate his lover's island hideaway, living with a daughter who shows the same dangerous habits as her fiery mother (like John Huston and Faye Dunaway in "Chinatown," incest is suggested but never truly confirmed for we learn nothing about the missing father or dead husband). The entire first half takes its time setting up the pivotal moment when Laura's insane plot bears fruit, the second half inexplicably trying to turn this obviously psychotic murderess into a frightened victim.
