Die, Die, My Darling! (AKA Fanatic)
Directed by Silvio Narizzano
Written by Richard Matheson from a novel by Anne Blaisdell
1965/UK
Columbia Pictures Corporation/Hammer Film
First viewing/Amazo Instant
They Shoot Zombies, Don’t They?
[box] Pat Carroll: Yes, I wondered if you might have a mirror I could …
Mrs. Trefoile: A mirror? Is it to adorn yourself, to observe yourself? Mirrors are not but tools of vanity, Patricia – I know! Vanity – sensuality, Patricia! The Bible speaks of our vile bodies.
Pat Carroll: Oh.
Mrs. Trefoile: I knew you would understand. [/box]
In the tradition of Baby Jane, we get this fun, fun thriller with an aging mad woman, this time played by Tallulah Bankhead.
Patricia Carroll (Stephanie Powers) has travelled to England to marry her fiance. Before she does, she has been invited to the home of Mrs. Trefoil who is the mother of Pat’s former fiance Stephen who killed himself. Mrs. Trefoil (Bankhead) is a bonkers religious fanatic that believes Pat is already married to the dead man, will be reunited with him in heaven, and that she must be “saved” and purified” before she dies.
Pat has a mind of her own. While Mrs. Trefoil says she does not want to hurt her, intimidation and starvation seem to be the only way of preventing her from escaping. The violence escalates after Pat tells Mrs. Trefoil that she had no intention of marrying Stephen if he had not died. With Donald Sutherland as a halfwit gardener.
This movie is pretty darn great for what it is. Bankhead is both campy and believable at the same time. I loved the way she would pick out the very most boring verses of the Old Testament to read from ad nauseum for hours. Powers is not nearly so good but she really does not need to be. Bankhead is more than enough. She didn’t make enough movies.
