Hyde
10-02-2008, 06:46 PM
LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH
1971
Director:
John D. Hancock
Writers:
John D. Hancock and Lee Kalcheim
Players:
Zohra Lampert ... Jessica
Barton Heyman ... Duncan
Kevin O'Connor ... Woody
Gretchen Corbett ... The Girl
Alan Manson ... Sam Dorker
Mariclare Costello ... Emily
Plot:
After being released from an asylum, Jessica and her husband Duncan, along with friend Woddy, retreat to a farm house to begin their lives again. After being stranded in New York never seeing anything but the city, the country seems like such a good idea......
However, strange whispers plague the night, and apparitions of people only seen by Jessica, make her wonder if she is still crazy....or is could this remote countryside be infested by the undead?
Is her newfound friend Emily truly a returned vampiress from the grave....or did Jessica never truly recover from her nervous breakdown?
Does it matter?
Not to Jessica.
Review:
This is another one of those films that slipped under the mainstream radar....a hauntingly chilling tale....which takes the viewer into the main characters perception of what is happening. Who knows what is real? The last one to know is the viewer...and in the end...we simply don't want to know.
Pros:
The acting is good as Zohra Lampert and Barton Heyman portray such a Jaded couple....who love each other, but simply cannot take another set-back.
Struggling to make it work, the tension between them builds and builds, and they always make the viewer believe it.
The directing by Hancock is impressive, as it mixes its 70s feel of horror, with the surrealistic aspects of almost Fellini-like overtones.
The use of care shown to make sure the viewer truly doesn't know what is real, and what is not....is flawless. It cannot be ascertained. It can only be admired.
Perhaps the greatest performance here belongs to beautiful Mariclare Costello, who effetively portrays this free spirited hippie one minute, and a blood thirsty vampire the next. In the blink of an eye, the viewer experiences her change...and WHAT a change! She is truly amazing in this part.
THe music is also very beautiful. Dramatic, haunting, and touching...it almost seems as though it could be a drama and much as a horror movie....this is one of those scores that sets the tone of the movie, rather than the movie setting the tone for the score.
Cons:
Dated looks...and suffering from a bit of 70's cornballish qualities, which cause the hockey factor to be present.
Some more blood would have been nice, and sometimes, even though Jessica character was mostly believable....she just seemed over the top.
Overall:
This is an important horror film. If you like films such as the original Carnival of Souls, and the original Salem's Lot...then this is YOUR kind of horror film.
Truly creepy, and entertaining, I think this is one terrific horror movie. I just hope it doesn't get remade.
Overall Grade:
A-
1971
Director:
John D. Hancock
Writers:
John D. Hancock and Lee Kalcheim
Players:
Zohra Lampert ... Jessica
Barton Heyman ... Duncan
Kevin O'Connor ... Woody
Gretchen Corbett ... The Girl
Alan Manson ... Sam Dorker
Mariclare Costello ... Emily
Plot:
After being released from an asylum, Jessica and her husband Duncan, along with friend Woddy, retreat to a farm house to begin their lives again. After being stranded in New York never seeing anything but the city, the country seems like such a good idea......
However, strange whispers plague the night, and apparitions of people only seen by Jessica, make her wonder if she is still crazy....or is could this remote countryside be infested by the undead?
Is her newfound friend Emily truly a returned vampiress from the grave....or did Jessica never truly recover from her nervous breakdown?
Does it matter?
Not to Jessica.
Review:
This is another one of those films that slipped under the mainstream radar....a hauntingly chilling tale....which takes the viewer into the main characters perception of what is happening. Who knows what is real? The last one to know is the viewer...and in the end...we simply don't want to know.
Pros:
The acting is good as Zohra Lampert and Barton Heyman portray such a Jaded couple....who love each other, but simply cannot take another set-back.
Struggling to make it work, the tension between them builds and builds, and they always make the viewer believe it.
The directing by Hancock is impressive, as it mixes its 70s feel of horror, with the surrealistic aspects of almost Fellini-like overtones.
The use of care shown to make sure the viewer truly doesn't know what is real, and what is not....is flawless. It cannot be ascertained. It can only be admired.
Perhaps the greatest performance here belongs to beautiful Mariclare Costello, who effetively portrays this free spirited hippie one minute, and a blood thirsty vampire the next. In the blink of an eye, the viewer experiences her change...and WHAT a change! She is truly amazing in this part.
THe music is also very beautiful. Dramatic, haunting, and touching...it almost seems as though it could be a drama and much as a horror movie....this is one of those scores that sets the tone of the movie, rather than the movie setting the tone for the score.
Cons:
Dated looks...and suffering from a bit of 70's cornballish qualities, which cause the hockey factor to be present.
Some more blood would have been nice, and sometimes, even though Jessica character was mostly believable....she just seemed over the top.
Overall:
This is an important horror film. If you like films such as the original Carnival of Souls, and the original Salem's Lot...then this is YOUR kind of horror film.
Truly creepy, and entertaining, I think this is one terrific horror movie. I just hope it doesn't get remade.
Overall Grade:
A-