[5] A certificate for a $1,000 life insurance policy from Lloyd's of London was given to each customer in case they should die of fright during the film.

Meanwhile Nancy, although blind, is enjoying a life consisting of casual sexual relationships, fast cars, and voyages abroad.

Her husband keeps her isolated at their home, while he spends time with his mistress, the young widow Sylvia Stevenson.

When Alice is about to give birth, Barrett is out drinking with Sylvia and does not answer a phone call for help.

His nurse assistant Polly Baron attempts to convince him that they should move out of town, but Barrett is looking forward to marrying Sylvia.

Polly receives a mysterious phone call, where the caller claims that he has kidnapped Marge and buried her alive.

In July 1957, William Castle formed the production company Susina Associates with Robb White and announced their intention to make five films over the following sixteen months, the first of which would be Macabre.

[1][8] According to Macabre assistant director Paul Wurtzel, Koch helped Castle by letting him use Bel-Air Productions[b] staff and its facilities at American National for cost plus a percentage.

[1] Castle employed a method he called "barnstorming" which involved following the film to different markets and promoting it along the way.

[7] In addition to the ads touting the $1,000 insurance policy,[d] methods used for Macabre included hiring fake nurses to stand by in the lobby and parking hearses outside theaters.

[12] Writing for Famous Monsters in 1962, Joe Dante included Macabre among his worst horror films list.

Dante described the film as "admittedly offbeat but tasteless horror tale" that was "too grim for real punch.