Strait-Jacket (1964)

4 / 5   Nov '09
Tagline: HER HUSBAND...HER ROOM... ......AND ANOTHER WOMAN
Directed by: William Castle
Written by: Robert Bloch
Actors include: Joan Crawford, Diane Baker, Leif Erickson
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 93 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Castle has done it again, another amusingly dark black comedy/horror picture only this time his gimmick was having a star...actress Joan Crawford. She does a stunning job as Lucy, who gave her Husband 40 wacks and when she saw what she had done she gave his Girlfriend 41! Or so I think that's how I remember it..., at any rate Lucy does kill her hubby and girlfriend with an axe in front of their 3 year old daughter (who looks way older than 3). She ends up in an Asylum for 20 years and we catch up with her as she's released. Lucy moves in with her Daughter, Brother and his Wife to try to adjust to life as a sane person. Her Daughter has a nice young Lad she wishes to marry and needs her Mom to be sane so his Parents will approve. Lucy seems to be having some coping skills (especially as people seem to humourously be using axes and knives around her repeatedly) but could she be responsible for several people's disappearances? It's pretty gosh darned entertaining and it definitely has that good old Castle vibe with the wit and sets and everything. The ending does beat you a little over the head with obvious information...it left me feeling like they thought I either didn't watch the movie or I was entirely a Moron. I guess to that point the story is clear...very very clear! Still quite a nice little gem that actually goes a little further than I thought it might but I think that's what makes it so gosh darned charming.

Availabilty:  On DVD

Seance On A Wet Afternoon (1964)

4.5 / 5 Feb '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Bryan Forbes
Written by: Bryan Forbes, Mark McShane
Actors include: Kim Stanley, Richard Attenborough, Judith Donner
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Length: 119 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one positively gripping thriller that doesn't rely on bells and whistles, only direct story telling and sheerly brilliant acting. Kim Stanley is amazing as Myra, a psychic who hasn't been all that successful so together with her weak willed husband Billy (Richard Attenborough) they device a scheme. They decide to kidnap (erm borrow) the daughter of a rich family and hold her hostage, then try to boost the claims of Myra's psychic powers by offering useful information. Billy's reluctance is really quite something, the dynamic between the couple is much like that of Hyacinth & Richard from the tv show Keeping Up Appearances only instead of just being irritating Myra is down right insane! Things of course go downhill from there and the whole scheme gets quite mixed up but it's the sort of thing one can't take their eyes off of. Very atmospheric, it may appear rather slow to some but it's all so purposeful I find it impossible to fault the film for that. Really one heck of a classic that I can't believe I've never heard mention of until recently, definitely you must see this!

Availability:  On DVD

Lady In A Cage (1964)

4 / 5 July '10
Tagline: Do not see "Lady in a Cage" alone!
Directed by: Walter Grauman
Written by: Luther Davis
Actors include: Olivia de Havilland, James Caan, Ann Sothern
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 94 minutes
Banned: Finland

Review:
Mrs. Hilyard (Olivia de Havilland) needs to have her hip replaced, in the meantime she has to use a cage-like elevator to get between floors in her house. Her Son has left her alone for a few days, so when something in her elevator malfunctions and she's trapped in there she's panicked. The elevator has a buzzer for help that rings a bell outside, instead of attracting help she attracts the attention of a bum who wants to rob her. Of course she's trapped so she can do nothing, but when more bad people that are more dangerous invade her house things go from bad to worse. Suddenly there are bodies, and total destruction and nobody will help. In a way it feels like a message to the audience that society sucks and won't help a suffering injured Woman, we'd rather rob her instead. Still it's rather shocking honestly and it goes further than I had expected. A rather cool concept with an intriguing execution and a wonderful leading lady...what more could one want?

Availability:  On DVD