Grito de Pavor

Back in 1973 I had a Bell and Howell 16mm projector and used to hire films to show to family and others.

This film was one of them and I can remember it scaring people back then.

Yesterday I watched it again through a modern projector, as BBC 2 had shown it recently, and thought it was just as good now as back in 1973.

It benefits from being shot in black and white, the acting is very good from all the cast, and there are some scary moments, the swimming pool being an obvious one.

It is really good to see an old fashioned horror film with no over-the-top effects, just a genuinely chilling story, well worth waiting for it to be shown again as not sure if available on DVD or video.

Any fan of Hitchcock(ian) suspense and/or horror should track down this film...you won't be disappointed. This is one film where the actors really seemed to love being in their perspective roles...this is full of unexpected thrills! unpredictable twists and turns...this one will keep you guessing and watching. Don't miss it!

Considering the movie is essentially a single set, 4 actors, and a "dead man", it's a heck-uva good little thriller. Credit should go to writer Sangster, director Holt, and 4 excellent performances, especially Strasberg's vulnerable young woman. Okay, the whole story is pretty contrived with a number of unexpected twists, but the measure of a thriller is how well you're glued to your seat, and this one uses epoxy.

So, what's up with Penny's (Strasberg) dad. He keeps turning up in odd places like the bottom of a pool. For a guy who looks dead, he sure gets around. And what's with step-mom Jane (Todd) always fussing around in the background, along with her friend the doctor. If I were Penny, I wouldn't let Christopher Lee's doc anywhere near my neck. Good thing Penny has the handsome chauffeur Bob (Lewis) on her side, because that wheelchair keeps going off- track. For some reason, the movie, especially the rancid pool, kept reminding me of the French classic Les Diabolique (1954).

I'm rather curious, however, about actor Ronald Lewis, a strong presence, and perhaps the only actor of the period to appear in a male bikini. He was a suicide at a relatively young age, suggesting a backstory of some kind—too bad IMDb couldn't provide more. Anyway, the movie manages to prove that sunny new mansions can be just as creepy as old dark ones, and that the ritzy French Riviera may not be a good place to vacation, especially if you're trying to get an ocean view from the cliffs.

This is quite possibly the best of the Hammer films, it's labeled as 'horror', but is more of a classic psychological thriller. The plot revolves around Susan Strasberg's visit to her father's estate after a decade of estrangement. Her physical condition (in a wheelchair, unable to walk after a horseback riding accident) and the recent death of her long time companion set her up to be the 'perfect victim'.

Her step mother, Ann Todd, and the family chauffeur Ronald Lewis are oh-so accommodating and thoughtful, explaining that her father is out of town. But, Strasberg starts to see dead dad popping up all over, while Todd, Lewis, and family doctor Christopher Lee try to persuade her she's just stressed and overly-imaginative. Is she crazy? Are they gas-lighting her? Although the viewer will remain suspicious, we are wisely kept in the dark as to motives (of all the characters..) until the final twist. The black and white photography is really well done -moody, shadowy - and is probably as important as the characters which is not the usual Hammer screamer in intense shades of red.

I saw this movie with my brother when we were kids. It is absolutely stunning! I remember we have been so afraid about some scenes that it was hard to close the light in our room for sleeping. Some facts are revealed at the end of the movie which makes it fascinating too! A "must see" movie! Shame on the industries, cannot get it on DVD!