The Victim

While the setup is good, The Victim does suffer from a predictable conclusion. Once you look at the opening credits and see a star's name, but said star doesn't show up until the last 10 minutes of the movie, you have a good feeling they might be the one causing all the mayhem. It's still got a nice, creepy rain-soaked atmosphere and anything with Eileen Heckhart and Elizabeth Montgomery sharing the screen together can't be all bad.

I first saw The Victim (aka Out Of Contention) well over 25 years ago when I was very young. Being a passionate fan of Bewitched since I was a child, I loved to watch anything that starred Elizabeth Montgomery. This movie was (and still is) a real treat - whether you are a fan of Miss Montgomery's work or not. Elizabeth always shines in her roles, such as her portrayal as the rape victim in A Case Of Rape and as the suspected murderess in The Legend Of Lizzie Borden. Her performance in The Victim as Kate, a terrified woman trapped in an isolated house during a storm, with a killer after her is brilliant. If you like exciting suspenseful thrillers than this is one movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the end. Another great performance well worth mentioning is that of Eileen Heckhart who plays the eerie and suspicious housekeeper. Unfortunately like most of Miss Montgomery's movies, The Victim is not available on DVD and I believe that although it was released on VHS some years ago, it is a rarity these days. I was lucky to have taped it when it was aired on television some ten years ago and so have a nice copy of this very good movie. A must see!

I watched this for the first time since it was new yesterday, and, no matter how many times I replay that final scene, I can't make out Eileen Heckert's last line. She says, "Mr. Chapell, let her go," then something about calling the police. I can't help but think that line is critical in determining exactly which one killed her, or if they were in it together. Does anyone know exactly what she says? I remember when the networks all had the movie of the week. I sure wish they still did. I liked the comment about the eeriness without the graphic violence, and I agree that none of that is necessary. By the way, what are some other old favorites everyone has? Maybe I'll find one I don't remember seeing!

If not, why? Rather a number of them were high class suspense pictures. This is one of them.

Elizabeth Montgomery plays a lady who's going visiting her sister in an isolated upland cottage after learning that the sister is planning to divorce her husband. The sister is already murdered when Elizabeth arrives but she doesn't know that. Instead, there's a prolonged eerie cat-and-mouse sequence when she's searching for her and unexpectedly finds the half deaf old maid entering. The meeting with the maid is quite unsatisfactory and awkward. Then the sister's husband turns up and it's quite clear that he's hiding something...

Not to spoil the story, the set up is great and one wish that today's television could conceive originality of this kind.

I think Liz was a little tired of comedy and chose the first script she was presented. I am a huge fan of hers, but this movie lacks in the plot department. First mistake is showing the dead body of her sister right off the bat. We know she's dead and have a pretty good idea who killed her. The only suspense is seeing the talented Liz Montgomery roam around in various stages of darkness trying to find her sister. Furthermore, she has to deal with Eileen Heckhart as a housekeeper who obviously was a "Charm School Dropout". She gives new meaning to the word "Old Bat". Sue Anne Langdon basically has a cameo role as a friend of Liz's sister who is only seen on the telephone talking to Liz. One of those movies that scared you as a kid but as an adult you see all the plot holes. Still, kinda fun to see Liz terrified.