Review of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) by Joe C — 12 Apr 2012

"Sister, sister oh so fair, why is there blood all over your hair?" Lame copy aside, this film entered a fiercly contested niche at the time defined mainly by Hitchcock films. Although aside from a common subgenre and few miniscule mutual elements, this film is it's own vehicle.

Something that struck me immediately was how the film begins with an intensity mostly found midway in a typical progressive horror film of the time. Hitchcock included. This makes this film a fine nail biter over all, but takes away precious shock value from the twist ending, and the black comedy elements seem to have been added on as afterthoughts.

This film felt bolted together as opposed to seamless. Hat's off to Bette Davis, who is more in her element her than most actors I've ever seen in any role.