Crwthod
A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.
Janae Milner
Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
GL84
After a bizarre string of murders, an investigation into the suspected family reveals far more secrets and murder when the main suspect in the murders start up the rampage once the detective arrives to clear the situation up.Overall this one really wasn't all that great even though there are a few solid points here. The main problem at work here for almost this entire one is the complete near-total reliance on tactics that just aren't in the least bit threatening here. The majority of her interactions with others, from the way she makes her grandmother slightly uneasy, freaks out and destroys the flower shop and from how they all seem to come together at the wrong moment to catch each other makes for a thoroughly uneventful time here with all of these segments never once doing anything to prove she's nothing but a mere loony rather than mentally disturbed. These don't have anything to do with being much of a horror film or really building much of an atmosphere here as these actions simply don't amount to much suspense or thrills which run rampant throughout here, following up so much time here that there's not a whole lot of time really devoted to making these all too appealing so it does drag along considerably in the first half with all of these non- horrific story lines. As well, there's the rather bland method here of going through a really obscenely long time to finish off the investigation of her activities, as the supposedly secretive actions are announced to all at nearly every opportunity affording not only a lazily-relaxed investigation manner but also affording them an opportunity to sabotage what's going on and keeping the ruse going. There are also some good points here, but none of them are that prolific or important. The film's best part is undoubtedly the opening, which is certainly a shocking and quite gruesome sequence that gets off the shock by nicely intermingling the calmness before the attack to a rather startling sequence beforehand, the sheer suddenness bringing about a rather creepy time here and then the act itself with the stabbing being quite brutal and leading to a fine escape that features several close calls before the actual resolution and escape. As well, the information gathered here by the investigation makes this one feel quite a bit more suspenseful than expected here as this slowly breaks down the inevitable which is where there's a lot to like and really enjoy here by how this sets up the story. The last positive here comes from the finale, where the big suspenseful walk-through of the house and following brawl in the living room where it gives off a great revelation to the set-up throughout here that's quite original and makes for a really fun time here. These here help this one and move it up, but the flaws are a little too much for this one.Today's Rating/PG: Violence.
Scott LeBrun
Not bad William Castle shocker stars the talented Joan Marshall as Emily, a strange young blonde who convinces Jim Nesbitt (Richard Rust), a hotel bellboy, to marry her in a hurry. But when they meet with Mr. Adrims (James Westerfield), a justice of the peace, she promptly murders Adrims in cold blood! She then hightails it out of town, returning to what was apparently her former life as nursemaid to mute invalid Helga Swenson (Eugenie Leontovich). And strange family secrets are forced to the surface as Emily interacts with Helga, Miriam Webster (Patricia Breslin), and Miriams' boyfriend Karl Anderson (Glenn Corbett).Mildly gimmicky movie waits until almost the end for Castle to come up with one of his trademark tricks. In this case, it's the "fright break", giving traumatized audience members a chance to leave the theatre if they feel that they won't be able to handle the climax. "Homicidal" is strange, and pretty entertaining, but the fact that it's so clearly inspired by "Psycho" hampers some of its effectiveness - and lends it a degree of predictability. (We even get a scene near the end of characters explaining the plot in case we didn't get it.) The atmosphere is good, the suspense works, and there's just a little bit of gore.The cast, also including Alan Bunce as Doctor Jonas and Gilbert Green as Lt. Miller, is game. The one who definitely comes off the best is Marshall (who gets an "introducing" credit here, under the pseudonym Jean Arless).Nothing great, but engaging up to a point.Six out of 10.
nomoons11
Since I knew this was a William Castle film I knew what to expect gimmick wise but not plot. Halfway through when we see the "Warren" character, I knew why it seemed familiar...Psycho!!! This film is for those who just watch em to get a kick and don't really look too deep. Unfortunately for me I dig in films to see and when the "Warren" character arrives I knew he and the "Emily" character were one in the same. Unless you are blind you couldn't miss it. This may have fooled people back in 1961 but it didn't slip by me at all.The only thing that held me to this was why the character was doing this. I mean you know right off this chick/guy...or whatever they were...was a little bit off...but you really don't get the answers until the very last minute. With that, it cleared things up and I had the answers I was looking for.This isn't a blatant ripoff of Psycho at all. It just has 1 of the same story devices...guy or girl dressing up as a guy or girl etc. Everything else is a bit different so it's was no rip-off. I imagine if you need somethin' to watch on a lonely Saturday night this will fill the bill. If you miss it, don't shed a tear.
williwaw
William Castle directed this great black and white film at Columbia. Glenn Corbett then a Columbia contract player stars and one wonders why Glenn Corbett never became a big movie star. After this film Glenn Corbett would go on to play supporting roles in movies starring James Stewart, Charlton Heston and several with John Wayne.This movie expertly filmed and with fine art and set decoration has a trick ending and one can figure it out midway the film but if you do it sort of ruins the wind up of this suspense film. All the attractive leads do very well and this is a most enjoyable film from the William Castle suspense factorI recommend this film
