Rating of
2/4
Using the term "thriller" loosely
kcvidkid - wrote on 06/03/08
This one left me scratching my head. I had to keep "rewinding" the DVR to see what I was missing, and I wasn't even falling asleep!
Pretty disappointing for my first Val Lewton-produced film. So much press lately, yet this has to be one of his minor efforts. I'd heard how he did miracles on a shoestring, turning bare concepts of lurid titles into creepy, atmospheric masterpieces. Well, I missed the boat on this one. I didn't find anything special about Kim Hunter's search for her missing sister, especially when she was found halfway through. Maybe it's the times in which we live, but I can't fathom what she was involved in that could be found more than a littlel shocking.
Also disappointing was Hammer Films' 1965 mystery, "Hysteria". I'm afraid as I get further into rediscovering Hammer, I'm going to learn that it really is only the Hammer HORROR brand that I remember loving.
This one is a tepid thriller with perhaps one of the very first shameless ripoffs of the shower scene from "Psycho". If it had led to anything going on that could be considered even slightly deranged, I might have enjoyed it more. As it is, though, it is a standard story of murder with no surprises.
UPDATE: I just read the Wikipedia entry for "The Seventh Victim". I must not have watched the same movie! Browsing through the plot synopsis was more entertaining than watching the movie. So perhaps it was just a failure in execution?
