Cunning and charismatic, but mentally unbalanced and hence dangerous psycho opportunist Vic Valance (a spot-on creepy and credible portrayal by David Garfield) lands a job as a male nurse taking care of aging and faded alcoholic former big-time Old Hollywood star Katharine Packard (superbly played with tremendous class and gusto by Miriam Hopkins). Pretty soon Vic is hatching an evil plot to take over Katharine's large palatial estate.
Writer/director Donald Wolfe relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, nicely captures a seedy downbeat atmosphere that's rife with despair and decay, and tosses in a few gnarly bits of splashy gore for grisly good measure. This film further benefits from sound supporting contributions from Gale Sondergaard as shrewd and suspicious personal assistant Leslie, Virginia Wing as spunky and charming servant Greta, and Florence Lake as feisty housekeeper Mildred. Joe Besser pops up in a small part as a tour bus driver. John Arthur Morrill's vibrant color cinematography boasts several snazzy psychedelic visual flourishes. The whole underlying theme of a mean, crass, and selfish young Hollywood exploiting and destroying the dying glamour of Old Hollywood gives this picture some meaty extra substance. A shamefully neglected entry in the horror hag subgenre.
Writer/director Donald Wolfe relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, nicely captures a seedy downbeat atmosphere that's rife with despair and decay, and tosses in a few gnarly bits of splashy gore for grisly good measure. This film further benefits from sound supporting contributions from Gale Sondergaard as shrewd and suspicious personal assistant Leslie, Virginia Wing as spunky and charming servant Greta, and Florence Lake as feisty housekeeper Mildred. Joe Besser pops up in a small part as a tour bus driver. John Arthur Morrill's vibrant color cinematography boasts several snazzy psychedelic visual flourishes. The whole underlying theme of a mean, crass, and selfish young Hollywood exploiting and destroying the dying glamour of Old Hollywood gives this picture some meaty extra substance. A shamefully neglected entry in the horror hag subgenre.