Dominique

The absolute most positive comment I can write about "Dominique" is that director Michael Anderson and his entire cast & crew remained 100% faithful to their initial intention of making an old-fashioned convoluted and atmosphere-driven "vengeance-from-beyond-the-grave" mystery thriller/horror. "Dominique" undeniably relies on plot clichés, stereotype characters and predictable jump-scares, but somehow it still stands as a respectable and potent semi-classic of the late 70s, and (correct me if I'm wrong) no true horror fanatic would ever criticize it entirely.

It's quite easy to list all the minor and less minor defaults of this production. Heck, I'm also guilty of jokingly referring to the title as "Dominique is Dull" instead of "Dominique is Dead". The pacing is incredibly slow, often on the verge of comatose even. Almost a third of the footage easily could have been cut as well, notably all Cliff Robertson's snail-paced trips through the corridor and down to the greenhouse to check whether or not his supposedly dead wife is bungling from the ceiling. Most of the supernatural gimmicks and tension builders are pretty weak and transparent (especially the self-playing piano) and the denouement honestly is quite easy to foretell, even if you haven't seen "Diabolique" and its four dozen of inferior imitations.

And yet ... it's utmost admirable, I think, that "Dominique" stubbornly and wholeheartedly persists in trying to disquiet you with minimal resources. Contrary to many other, similarly themed films, this one didn't cause me to go eye-rolling or hit the fast-forward button. A handful of sequences really are effectively uncanny, like the arrogant husband suddenly getting confronted with his own date of death on a tombstone, and some sub plots really are clever, like what's the dubious role of the doctor. It also helps, of course, that the cast exclusively contains extremely professional and experienced names. Cliff Robertson is terrific, and he receives qualitative support from Jenny Agutter, Simon Ward, Jean Simmons and even that lovely elderly Flora Robson. "Dominique" may be routine horror guff, but I daresay that I'm proud to have it in my collection nonetheless!

I sussed out who was in it from the start (no spoilers) but then watching whodunnits is almost never about who done it.

It's about atmosphere and acting: in these two departments the film, though dated, is very effective. The acting is particularly excellent with the cast of stars assembled, with Simmons and Agutter absolutely stealing every scene they're in. And Ward is pretty much off the scale.

Some particularly impressive atmospherics involving gravestones and exhumations communicating the terror felt increasingly by the male protagonist very well.

But the pace (editing) is so slow, it puts a bit of a spanner into the whole works.

I adore Jean Simmons and Jenny Agutter, and don't mind Cliff Robertson's masculinity hogging the screen.

But it's Simon Ward here who is the most successful piece of casting for the role. He has a unique facial structure, the eyes naturally conveying depths of hidden emotion and thought, and a sense of disdain for everything and everyone around him, and here they are deployed with deadly effect in the role.

Not the greatest thriller, but definitely worth a look for the performances alone.

Thanks Tubi for extending your range of classic offerings constantly.

A man drives his wife Dominique to suicide so he can claim her inheritance, she returns from the grave to enact a richly deserved revenge.

This British chiller is a film that clearly seems to have something of a bad reputation. I have to stand against the crowd here though because I personally find this flick somewhat entertaining and even thrilling in places. The story may be a little predictable and it may also require the audience to stretch their credibility at times. But, seriously, so what? Many films of this type have these types of issues. It may be no coincidence that its title resembles the French classic Les Diaboliques a little because Dominique is essentially a reworking of a few core ideas from that one but with a few different angles of its own. Its director is Michael Anderson who not long before had made the impressive sci-fi film Logan's Run. Also from that film was actress Jenny Agutter who has a small but important role in this one. There is a smattering of other familiar faces from British films too. But mainly this works as a spooky horror-thriller. It really is nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be.

I was pleasantly surprised at this movie. Expecting B-rate 70's schlock (not that there is anything wrong with that) I witnessed a movie that actually held my attention without me having to snipe at it for entertainment. My major complaint - this movie was too long by half. We got a few too many scenes of Ballard waking up, putting on his house coat, and walking to somewhere. Something else happens - Ballard puts his housecoat on again and walks. Acting was stiff at best, and it looks as if somebody forgot to pay the light bill, but those could be overcome by a somewhat interesting plot line, a unexpectedly brilliant ending, and some psych. intrigue I didn't think possible in the 70's. I just wish somebody would talk more than 1 sentence somewhere in the movie.

I have not seen Dominique in years... watching it again after years of no see I find the movie extremely good. If you want a fast-paced, bloody ghost story then this film is not for you. This film is what you might call 'slow' and written well instead of 'fast' and all bloody eye-candy with no solid story. Dominique is my kind of a ghost story - just a damned good story with quality acting.

The story is exactly like the plot summery. Basically, a money-hungry husband and the 'ghost' of a vengeful wife. There is more to this story but I will not tell it because it would ruin the film for those who have not seen it yet. It's a must watch for lovers of older ghost stories.

I remembered the film to be good - but it is so much better than I recalled it to be. This might be a 'boring' ghost story for some - for others, like myself, this is a quality haunting film.

8.5/10