Paranoiac
Directed by Freddie Francis
Written by Jimmy Sangster
1963/UK
Hammer Films
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Strange how paranoia can link up with reality now and then. — Philip K. Dick [/box]
A well-shot and fairly scary modern thriller from Hammer Pictures.
The setting is a dysfunctional household in contemporary England. The original owners, John and Mary Ashby, died thirteen years previous. Their teenage son Tony fell into the sea three years later. Still living are the remaining two children — Simon (Oliver Reed), a nasty drunkard, and delicate Eleanor (Janette Scott), who has pined for her brother Tony since his death and may or not be insane. Eleanor is cared for by buxom French nurse Francoise. Completing the picture is Simon and Eleanor’s stern Aunt Harriet.
After the family’s annual memorial service for the departed, Eleanor starts seeing visions of her brother Tony. There are lots of twists and turns in the plot and I think I will leave this right there.
I have been watching a fair number of horror duds lately and this movie was a very welcome relief. Hammer is famous for its Gothic horror but really made all sorts of films. Cinematographer-turned-director Freddie Francis keeps this interesting to look at throughout. The movie ends up in a place I didn’t quite expect it to take me – always a good thing.
Trailer
