Frightmare (film)
| Frightmare | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Pete Walker |
| Produced by |
Pete Walker Tony Tenser |
| Written by |
Pete Walker David McGillivray |
| Starring |
Rupert Davies Sheila Keith Deborah Fairfax Paul Greenwood Kim Butcher |
| Music by | Stanley Myers |
| Cinematography | Peter Jessop |
| Editing by | Robert C. Dearberg |
| Distributed by |
Miracle Ellman Film Enterprises |
| Release dates | November 6, 1974 |
| Running time | 88 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Frightmare (also known as Cover Up and Once Upon a Frightmare) is a 1974 British horror film directed by Pete Walker and written by Pete Walker and David McGillivray. It starred Rupert Davies and Sheila Keith. The story focuses around Dorothy and Edmund Yates, who have recently been released from a mental asylum, and is one of Pete Walker's most notable films.
Plot
In an isolated farmhouse, a woman named Dorothy Yates lives with her husband. Dorothy has just been released from a mental institution after it was found she was a cannibal who killed and partially ate at least six people in 1957. Her husband, Edmund Yates was convicted as well but we come to find out that he only faked his dementia in order to remain with his wife. He was a truly devoted husband who loved his wife dearly but really had nothing to do with the actual murders in 1957 and in the present.
Now it is 1974 it seems as if Dorothy has had a severe relapse. She secretly lures lonely young people to her Haslemere, Surrey home, promising tea and a tarot card reading, only with the session ending with a violent murder and "feast". Jackie, (Edmund's daughter by previous marriage) began to suspect her stepmum, Dorothy, rather early in the film and juggles her family ties while at the same time, trying to control her stepsister, Debbie (Dorothy's actual daughter that she and Edmund had shortly before being committed to the asylum). Debbie rides with a violent bike gang and has apparently inherited her mum's appetite for human flesh herself. Debbie became involved in a fight with her boyfriend and a barman after closing time near one of London's hip nightclubs. The bike gang leave when spotted by customers but Debbie hid the body in a car shelter before the police arrived.
Debbie has severe arguments with Jackie about where Jackie goes at night. She learns (offscreen) that Jackie has been visiting her parents in Haslemere. Debbie finds out where they live and she and boyfriend (Alex) flee to the countryside home to be reunited with mum and dad. They are a family again and plan to plot against Jackie, who kept Debbie from them.
Critical reception
Allmovie wrote "Frightmare is a potent little chiller that is worth a look to horror fans in search of suitably grim fare from the 1970's and a worthy testament to Pete Walker's distinctive genre skills."[1]
Cast
- Rupert Davies as Edmund Yates
- Sheila Keith as Dorothy Yates
- Deborah Fairfax as Jackie
- Paul Greenwood as Graham
- Kim Butcher as Debbie
- Fiona Curzon as Merle
- Jon Yule as Robin
- Trisha Mortimer as Lillian
- Pamela Fairbrother as Delia
- Edward Kalinski as Alec
- Victor Winding as Detective Inspector
- Anthony Hennessey as Detective Sergeant
- Noel Johnson as The Judge
- Michael Sharvell-Martin as Barman
- Tommy Wright as Nightclub Manager
- Andrew Sachs as Barry Nichols
- Nicholas John as Peter
- Jack Dagmar as Old Man
- Leo Genn as Dr. Lytell
- Gerald Flood as Matthew Laurence
References
- ↑ Donald Guarisco. "Frightmare (1974)". Allmovie. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
External links
- Frightmare at the Internet Movie Database
- Frightmare at allmovie
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