SCREAM
OF FEAR
Starring
Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd, Christopher Lee, John
Serret. Directed by Seth Holt. (1961/82 min).
NEVER
TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER
Starring
Patrick Allen, Gwen Watford, Janina Faye, Felix Aylmer, Niall
MacGinnis, Michael Gwynn, Alison Leggatt. Directed by Cyril Frankel. (1960/82 min).
The
latest in the Hammer Films Double Feature series is a mixed bag.
While neither is a true horror film, one at-least contains elements
of the the genre. The other, however, is not-only atypical Hammer fare, it's totally the wrong film to round out this double
bill.
Scream
of Fear is a moody, almost gothic tale in the vein of
Diabolique. Susan Strasberg plays Penny, a wheelchair-bound young woman who returns home after ten
years. She's told by stepmother Jane (Ann Todd) that her father is away on business. However,
Penny keeps seeing Dad's corpse all around
the property, only for it to disappear whenever she tells someone.
The family doctor (Christopher Lee, in an early role) thinks Penny's
hallucinating, but she's able to convince their chauffeur, Bob (Ronald Lewis), that
something more sinister is going on.
 |
| "Yes, lady...I know the way to San Jose. Haven't heard that one before." |
The
film takes its time establishing the scenario and players. In fact,
the story drags at times before coming to life at the end
with a couple of surprising twists. Scream of Fear won't
make anyone forget Diabolique,
but it's atmospheric and the performances are decent.
Never
Take Candy from a Stranger is
unlike anything released under the Hammer Films banner. First off, it
isn't even a horror film, nor does it resemble one. It is, however, a
disturbing and depressing cautionary tale of an old pedophile who
accosts two little girls. When one child's parents report it to the
police, almost the entire community (including the other child's
father!) would rather to brush the incident under the rug because the
old man is part of the town's wealthiest family.
 |
| "Let's go to the hotel and mess with Danny Torrance." |
Despite
its age and how discreetly it handles the subject matter, Never
Take Candy from a Stranger is
tough viewing, and not just because the victims are children.
Watching nearly every adult's apparent indifference is infuriating.
For the most part, the film plays like a black & white Law
& Order episode, complete
with a lengthy courtroom scene. While there's nothing necessarily
wrong with that and the film is tastefully made, I doubt this is what
traditional Hammer horror fans have in mind.
Despite
hailing from the same studio, these two films aren't really
compatible co-features. Neither is bad, but as much as I enjoy Oreos and barbecue sauce, I wouldn't consider eating them together.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
None
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...BUT WHO THOUGHT TO PAIR THESE TOGETHER?
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