Savage Intruder

Low-budget psychedelic thriller in the "Baby Jane" genre, but it features a terrific performance by the legendary Miriam Hopkins in her last performance (complete with semi-nudity and love scenes), joined by Gale Sondergaard and the under-rated John David Garfield (close your eyes and he sounds like his famous father). The film was never released to theaters and the video came out in England after Hopkins'death. Hopkins portrays an aging alcoholic movie star living in seclusion with Sondergaard as her stern secretary-companion. She breaks her hip and drug-addict psycho Garfield is hired to help care for her. Hopkins and Garfield begin a bizarre affair and the murders begin. Filmed in Norma Talmadge's former estate and with a slightly larger budget, it could have been successfully released. Still a real curio though and worth tracking down if you can find it. Try the UK if you can play PAL or look under the title "Hollywood Horror House." (Originally filmed as "The Comeback.") It deserves a proper DVD release, as does Hopkins' previous movie, Russ Meyer's "Fanny Hill."

This is really nothing more than a slightly gorier rendition of SUNSET BOULEVARD/BABY JANE hysterics. Miriam Hopkins, one of Hollywood's finest actresses during the '30's, gives an appropriately hammy performance as a demented former movie queen who, when not chugging down a bottle of vodka, is staggering around her decaying Hollywood mansion(the real-life home of famous silent screen star Norma Talmadge) plotting to make a comeback. When she breaks her leg during a drunken episode, she is assisted by a good-looking, but strange young man(John Garfield, Jr.) who passes himself off as a male nurse, but is, in fact, a sick psychopath who has been dismembering several women who live in the Hollywood hills. Despite being almost totally beyond redemption, the movie offers some occasionally worthwhile moments supplied by several familiar old-time character actors, and Miss Hopkins, in her final film role, gives a much better performance than the circumstances warrant. Also out on video as: HOLLYWOOD HORROR HOUSE. Originally titled: THE COMEBACK.

Strange movie, great video box though. I'd like to summerise the plot but this is a movie that has to be seen cold really. Possibly an interesting insight into the mind of a psycho but really just good trashy horror. I'd reccomend it to those of a less discerning taste

Miriam Hopkins plays an aging,drunken and washed-out movie queen living in a decaying mansion in Hollywood Hills,California.Her nurse is a psychotic young man who enjoys murdering and dismembering women with a sharp meat-cleaver.There is an interesting contrast between Old Hollywood and New Hollywood in low-budget proto-slasher "The Savage Intruder" by Donald Wolfe.The atmosphere of late 60's Hollywood's decadence is well-captured and the acting is decent.Unfortunately the pace is slow and there is not enough suspense.The killings are pretty gory and the climax is twisted.If you are a slasher completist you should give "The Savage Intruder" a chance.7 out of 10 for this cheesy curio.

The influence of a Mother fixation a la "Psycho" is obvious in this intriguing horror film. The hatchet wielding psychotic is played, with a rather mundane performance, by David Garfield. Forget about him though and enjoy the great acting of Gale Sondergaard and Miriam Hopkins, who exude much class in their acting. The film is very atmospheric, has little blood, and is relentlessly downbeat from beginning to end. The clash of faded Hollywood with the psychotronic 60s/ 70s is used to great advantage, making this a treat for old film buffs, but dubious entertainment for the slasher crowd. Though lacking "Hitchcock" caliber excellence, "Hollywood Horror House", is nevertheless an interesting relic that deserves attention. - MERK