Review of Paranoiac (1963) by Wes S — 06 Feb 2015

From Hammer Films, this was one of their suspense films, written by Hammer veteran Jimmy Sangster (The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), Dracula (1958) and Fear in the Night (1972)), and directed by Freddie Francis (The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), Hysteria (1965) and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)), this is a suspenseful film which was based on the 1949 book Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey.

Set in the South of England, it focuses on the decendants of the wealthy Ashby family, the mother and father of the family were killed in a plane accident, and the 3 children have been raised by their aunt Harriet (Sheila Burrell).

The oldest child Tony committed suicide when he was 15 by throwing himself into the sea. The second son Simon (Oliver Reed) is a nasty alcoholic who squanders his money, while the daughter Eleanor (Janette Scott) was driven insane by Tony's death.

However, with the family being split apart, a man claiming to be Tony (Alexander Davion) turns up claiming he faked his death, but Simon doesn't believe him. It's a good thriller, and it has some good moments of suspense throughout, and it does actually mirror what Reed became in real life, but he does turn in a very good, powerful performance.

The film is benefitted by some brilliant widescreen cinematography by Arthur Grant, shot in a stark, sharp black and white.