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HomicidalRating:
Release Date: 12 March, 2002 Retail Price: $24.95 OUR Price: $8.47 You SAVE: $16.48! Cast: |
Homicidal Reviews
A Cult above the rest.
I saw this film when it first came out and I see it now as it approaches its 50th birthday. It was fun then and it still is today. Mr. Castle, too often categorized as a low budget Hitchcock, was anything but that. He directed many major film stars, was the producer of Rosemary'y Baby, and for over a decade treated filmgoers to a gimmicky bunch of horror films that gave us the creeps but never nightmares.
"Homicidal" has a FRIGHT BREAK plus a unique kick that fooled me completely.
If yuo can't find it to rent it's worth the price to buy it for a cool campy chill.
Bonkers
"Homicidal" is a very odd horror film from the master of gimmicks, William Castle. Well it's not really that odd, as the plot and structure are inspired and almost stolen from Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho". But it is notably weirder and schlockier, not least of all due to the inclusion of the "Fright Break"...but more on that later! The film begins by introducing us to a mysterious blonde woman named Emily who gets married to a complete stranger and then stabs the man conducting the wedding ceremony to death, right in the middle of it. Not bad for starters! Emily flees the scene and turns up back at the home she shares with a mute, wheelchair-bound, elderly woman named Helga. As Emily's behaviour starts to attract suspicion, it's clear that Helga wants to warn people about Emily, but being unable to speak she is unable to make her fears known.
Let me say straight away that the actress playing the character of Emily is terrific. To be honest I don't know how much of the effectiveness is down to her being a bad actress or a good one, but I've seldom seen such an out-there performance by someone playing a psychopath, and the unknown Jean Arless manages to pull it off with great aplomb. Wavering between seductiveness, brittle anger and sheer hysteria, Emily will keep your attention on the screen every time she appears...when her eyes start widening and she grits her teeth, you really believe this is a character capable of doing anything. The fact that she's dolled up like some crazed Doris Day-style, apple-pie cutie with candyfloss blond curls and big starched skirts only adds to her obvious dementia...no wonder Emily is one of my all-time favourite horror movie psychos!
Sadly when the deranged Emily is off-screen, the film suffers as its several weaker areas become more apparent. Although there's plenty of action, the other characters are mostly dull and insipid, especially the heroine Miriam and her boyfriend, who are far too sensible and predictably nice to be of much interest. Most troubling of all is the character of Miriam's brother Warren, who almost ruins the film with some very odd appearances. The film has a huge shock twist ending, but it's unlikely to surprise anyone, even someone without any prior information about the plot, which is a shame.
But there is still plenty to enjoy. One highlight being Emily's fabulous vandalism of a flower shop. The other being the "Fright Break"...ah yes. "Homicidal" benefits from being one of the few William Castle films with a gimmick that still works when being watched on televison rather than in a theatre. At a certain point in the film, a clock suddenly and unexpectedly appears on the screen and an announcer declares : "This is the Fright Break..."! Basically, the audience is given the chance to leave if they are too scared to watch what is about to happen...then, when the timer reaches zero, the action re-starts! It looks hilarious and adds a great interactive dimension. You'll have a lot of fun watching this movie.
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