Review of Frightmare (1974) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012

Conceived, produced and directed by Pete Walker, whose brand of low-budget schlock proved to be remarkably effective, as proven with The Flesh and Blood Show (1972) and House of Whipcord! (1974), this was shot back-to-back with the latter film, and it's equally as nasty and sinister as that was, it makes for uncomfortable viewing, despite a game cast.

It tells the story of Dorothy Yates (Sheila Keith), who was convicted in 1957 for having cannibalised 6 people, and she was sent to a mental institution, her husband Edmund (Rupert Davies) was sent down, but was released shortly afterwards, as he faked insanity to be with his wife.

It's 17 years later, and Edmund's daughter from a previous marriage Jackie (Deborah Fairfax) suspects that Dorothy is on the verge of a violent relapse, especially after Edmund finds tarot cards hidden, (which were present during the original crimes in 1957), and Edmund and Dorothy's daughter Debbie (Kim Butcher) is going off the rails with her rebellious behaviour, and she's showing signs of what her mother did when she committed the murders all those years ago.

It's a very upsetting and unsettling films, with moments that mirror with what was to come in The Driller Killer (1979), (you get the impression Abel Ferarra got ideas from this.) But, it's a very lurid and unsettling horror film, it's surprising that they got away with blood and gore like this even for then.