Bond of Fear

BOND OF FEAR is one of those low key, low budget British thrillers that I love so much. It feels very much like a British reworking of the US thriller THE HITCH-HIKER albeit made on a much smaller scale and with a typically British down-to-earth twist. The main characters are an ordinary family (husband, wife, two kids, one of each gender) who embark on a caravan holiday to France by way of Dover, little realising that a murderer is hiding out in their caravan.

It's a simple tale, well told by director Henry Cass (a steadfast B-picture director whose highlight other than this is probably the full-blooded Hammer horror copy BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE). The script is by the ubiquitous John Gilling with support from comedy writer Norman Hudis. The tale brings to life the English countryside and the journey structure of the narrative means that the viewer never gets bored during the brief running time.

Dermot Walsh is excellently cast as the resourceful father caught up in a nightmare world, but the real stand out is John Colicos, displaying some of the edgy talent that would later make him a popular figure in American TV. Even the child actors give good performances here. Okay, so the tale is occasionally predictable, particularly at the climax, but it's also tense and oddly gripping, which is why I give it the thumbs up.

It is rather long to start, but the tension rapidly increases for this short length thriler. Directed by Henry Cass, a brilliant grade B British director for whom BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE is the most known movie. But he made other films, thrillers and dramas worth watching too. This one is tense, grabbing your attention after ten minutes, and the family taken as hostages is the main reason to concern many audiences. American film industry made dozens of movies of this kind; so this plot is not purely British, and I find it interesting. It looks like an Andrew Stone's feature. Good cast for a taut film.

I remember seeing this film on TV when I was a kid and was totally absorbed. I still like this type of old British movie. I think it's the good old-fashioned storyline with lots of suspense that does it for me.

So here we have good old Dermot Walsh minding his own business, taking his family on a trip with the caravan in tow and ending up with a wanted criminal holding them hostage whilst on the move with their trailer. For me, the acting is more than decent and for anyone like me who has a penchant for rather cheaply made, but nonetheless good, black and white British second features of this era, it would be a very decent purchase if only it were available on DVD or VHS (hint, hint).

Yes, it's a pity that - ahem - Amazon don't have a great many of this type of good old British black and white on either DVD or VHS.

Well done.

A young family named Sewell are planning to take a holiday abroad and with all the mod-cons of the day i.e a caravan they can go anywhere and have decided to travel abroad.

They are making their way to Dover from Birmingham, (no motorways or sat nav, just simple map directions.) Unfortunately, they find some criminal in their caravan, named Dewar.

This man is a bad piece of work and he's just killed a night watchman so he's desperate to get away from the police who want to speak to him. The police are making stop and search road checks to find him. He has found a way of avoiding them.

There is no bon voyage for this family as they set off for a well earned caravan holiday, they've set off with an unwelcome guest, the killer Dewar.

It's a very good movie, it's well paced, and despite dating back to the 1950's it manages to keep you gripped, with lots of tension. James Colicos is the show stealer as Dewar, there is something very sinister about his performance, it's menacing but understated. The family are all a little straight laced, very much a product of the time, starched collars and stuff upper lips, Dermot Walsh in particular.

Don't expect big budget, but do expect to be entertained, the injured hitcher provides a giggle, but otherwise it's a serious, straight affair.

It's enjoyable. 8/10