I Start Counting

I saw this film when it was on General release, and was somewhat taken-a-back by the acting ability of its very young leading Lady. Jenny Agutter was superb in the role of Wynne, a teenager who thought her step brother to be involved in some killings, and left nothing about her character's thoughts to the imagination. "I start Counting" was, of course, very different from M/s. Agutter's later work; and, to my mind, the character had more punch than many of her later portrayals. Perhaps, only her portrayal of the eldest daughter in "The Railway Children" carried the same amount of convincing charm as her portrayal of Wynne in "I start Counting". For me, Jenny Agutter "shines" in this movie: the storyline is right for her, and she was the right person to play Wynne. I could gladly watch this movie over and over again.

Jenny Agutter (Wynne) is 14 going on 15 and has a crush on her elder brother Bryan Marshall (George). He's 20 years older than her and isn't her real brother so it's not as twisted as it sounds. They live in the same family house along with another brother Gregory Phillips (Len), mother Madge Ryan and granddad Billy Russell. Agutter has a flirtatious friend Clare Sutcliffe (Corinne) and together they hang out and talk about boys and love. Agutter shares her fantasy about her brother with her friend and we see how she really cares for him. Alongside her troubled teenage time, there is a serial killer on the prowl and girls and young women are not safe in the area.

I liked it. Another British hit for creepiness. Who is the killer? You'll probably change your mind a few times on this one as you try to figure it out. It's filmed on location with a sinister undertone and keeps you watching with various plot twists. We also get Jenny Agutter on a journey to discover what her role in life isn't destined to be and the heartaches she encounters. Who knows, maybe she gets her way once the film finishes?

This is another very well made British Thriller from the late 60s / early 70s. Like other reviews I had seen 'I Start Counting' once before, on late night television, one (I think) Sunday evening in the early 1980s.

It is a film that stayed with me but could never remember its title or even who was in it (I didn't even remember Jenny Agutter as the lead!) until I accidently came across it on a IMDB list. I did recall that it was don't miss a minute suspenseful.

I have now just watched it again and it still stands the test of time. It's a horror / thriller that doesn't rely on blood, gruesome murders or cheap shocks. It keeps the viewer thinking but that is because it is a film with many levels of which the underlining narrative about a serial killer stalking young girls in a village is one of the least compelling - at least to me watching again 50 years after the film was made and around 40 since I last sat entranced.

Agutter and Bryan Marshall are superb in this. She of course has since given many more excellent performances in a lot of very good films but I have never seen Marshall in anything as good or give a portrayal as naturally convincing as this. To be honest I have not seen him in another role so integral to the story.

I would definitely be interested to know why this film is so rarely seen. It is certainly one for fans of the period and also for people who like their suspense to come without gratuitous violence.

A film well worth discovering.

I have no

This movie is awesome. I don't know why it isn't more popular. the cinematography was fab and the lead actress who played Wynne had this real innocence about her, that was so believable. I thought the storyline was great, it was something unusual. the synopsis based it around Wynne's suspicious feelings towards her brother and the murders, but I found it was about something more than that, about the way different people perceive situations and how different peoples duties and commitments can be seen differently in others eyes.

The rest of the cast were great. I loved the few parts of humour in the film, that lifted from the somewhat dark and serious theme, and showed how unusual the film is. the theme song I Start Counting was awesome. It was an awesome name for the film

I'm totally raving about this film man. It freaking rules! I love it!

A 14-year old Catholic girl Wynne(Jenny Agutter)falls in love with her older adoptive brother.Her crush is growing stronger as she believes that he is the local sex killer of young girls."I Start Counting" is a subtle exploitation film which touches several taboo subject matters including incest,drugs,rape and teenage sexuality.The story is fascinating and often confusing and the film is full of symbolism.The purity and innocence of Wynne slowly becomes corrupted.The girl believes she sees the statue of Jesus in church weeping blood.The climax of "I Start Counting" is very powerful and memorable.Along with "Night After Night After Night" a forgotten genre essential from late 60's.8 out of 10.