Let’s Scare Jessica to Death
by Geoff on May.19, 2010, under Daily Review
This is something of a special movie and one which should really be experienced by all who enjoy a good movie. There’s a slow build up something terrible which you know is about to happen. There are moments of true dread and a real aerie creepiness to the cinematography which really 
helps the film build to one of the most remarkable climaxes I’ve ever seen. But from the opening scene, you, the viewer knows something is coming.
The plot follows Jessica, recently out of a mental institute, escaping the big city for country living, moves into a huge spooky looking house with her husband and friend. They meet up with Emily who moves in with them, but the rest of the locals in the village are a bit strange. They they hear tales of the old owners and a water end to the residents and tales of a vampire girl how lived there. All the time, Jessica has this voice in here head, warning and guiding.
Zohra Lampert is stunning as Jessica, offering a real top quality performance which gets under your skin. The rest of the cast reinforce the films credence. Barton Heyman, Kevin O’Connor and Mariclare Costello. As I have mentioned, this is a slow burner, and it’s a joy to watch the story build and Jessica playing with her mind as to reality or nightmare, but the ending is astonishing and one which should be held as one of the finest in the genre. One of my favourite lines in the film, from the mind of Jessica is, ‘Nightmares, dreams, madness or sanity. I don’t know which it is.’
[amtap amazon:asin= B000FSME2E]
May 19th, 2010 on 11:07 am
Nice. I’ve never seen it but I’m partial to the name Jessica so I think I’ll check it out!
May 19th, 2010 on 4:10 pm
Sounds a little like The Haunting (1963, not the 1999 version) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057129/) in the sense that you can’t really trust the main character’s perception at *all*. Have to check it out.
May 20th, 2010 on 12:55 am
Thanks, i’ll add it to the list. It’s one i’ve been wanting to watch for years. It’s on my shelf so i’ll include it in the next few weeks. Any other recommendations?
May 20th, 2010 on 12:56 am
I love the name Jessica, but the whole title is just great. I love films with long curious titles:) You’ll love it. Very highly recommended.
February 18th, 2011 on 4:54 pm
I saw this movie in 1978 when BBC2 was especially imaginative in its programming. To me it’s equal to BBC’s adaptations of MR James & Dickens horror & ghost stories.