Review of Twisted Nerve (1968) by Eric R — 27 Feb 2012

Martin is a 22-year old schizophrenic who goes in between a six-year-old boy and psychotic. He lives with his over nurturing mother and his stepfather, who wants the boy evicted from the house. Martin leaves and is taken in by Susan Harper and her family, who unaware of Martin's mental state.

All the criticism I have read about this film seems to step from the fact that this film ridiculously makes the argument that siblings of individuals with down syndrome are per-disposed to be psychopaths.

While this is stupid, it doesn't take away the fact that this is a fun flick. The highlights of this one are Hywel Bennett Martin. He really does a great job in this film and just has this sense of unease about him.

It seems like every scene I was just waiting for him to snap, which really makes the film pretty tense throughout. The other great aspect of the film is without question Bernard Herrman's score, which was plundered and reused by Tarantino for Kill Bill, for anyone that doesn't know.

It's such a simple tun that is uses multiple times to elicit all types of emotions. Twisted Nerve's assumption is ridiculous but it present a good argument towards the idea that psychopaths aren't necessarily formed by environmental factors but genetic factors could hold the key.

It's no "Peeping Tom', and it's clearly dated, but its a fun, rather tense thriller that I enjoyed.