The Fantale team responsible for the lesbian vampire films at Hammer were hired by British Lion to do a cheap thriller - it's basically two sets, one an isolated house where Susan George babysits a young kid and is tormented by an escaped loony (Ian Bannen), the other a restaurant where parents of said kid (Honor Blackman, George Cole) have dinner with a doctor (John Gregson). When you see Dennis Waterman turn up as George's boyfriend you realise the cast is very good.
George is in her full pouty lipped glory from this era, a likeable presence, forced to constantly unbutton her top (or someone does it for her), allowed to scream a little too often, but she carries the film. Bannen is great in a scenery chewing part, tormenting, pleading, creating some sympathy. Blackman looks on presumably wondering what happened to her leading lady career, and too good looking really for George Cole. Gregson feels wasted.
There's good moments here. The start especially with George alone in the house apart from the kid (played by the director's son - director allows lots of scenes with Bannon holding a knife to the kid's throat, as in a LOT), being scared, wind outside.
But there's not enough story for a film. Waterman turns up. Hangs out. Leaves is killed. Bannen turns up. Then... it hops up and down on the spot with him tormenting George until the others turn up. Now you can do this in Dead Calm because Nicole has to seduce Billy Zane to keep him on edge... and tries to poison him, etc. That's what should've been done here, especially as Bannen thinks George is Blackman. She should have tried to seduce him or at least cajole him, get the kid to safety, etc. But that was beyond Tudor Gates, I think.
Either that or the film needed more twists. Like for George Cole to be evil or John Gregson. Cole just hangs about looking for something to do. Neither of them even die.
It's a shame because Peter Collinson brings imagination to the piece. The film looks good.
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