Paranoiac

source: Paranoiac

I'd never seen this Hammer film before and I finally dug it out from my Universal Hammer Collection. What a pleasant surprise it was. It is so refreshing sometimes to see black and white photography at a time when Hammer was known for its colour, and that moody b&w style really compliments this disturbing tale of a family of oddballs and what happens when one of their clan who drowned himself as a boy returns. Oliver Reed drinks as much as he did in real life here (it ultimately killed Reed) and he's really excitingly over the top. A hidden gem in some ways, PARANOIAC is well-scripted by Jimmy Sangster, and nicely directed by Freddie Francis. The more I think about it, the underrated Francis was often better than Terence Fisher. *** out of ****

The first of Hammer's psycho thrillers but not one it's best. Maybe I shouldn't have watched it so soon after the excellent 'Nightmare', or indeed before it but there you go. Similar to 'Nightmare' in that it was scripted by Jimmy Sangster and directed by Freddie Francis, and again a plot revolving around who is mad, and who isn't, the film is only effective occasionally. There's cash to be inherited and Oliver Reed wants it, and he doesn't want to share it with his sister, Jeanette Scott. When Scott apparently sees her long-dead brother at a memorial service for her parents, Reed sees this as the excuse he needs to declare her insane and keep all the cash for himself. But to throw a spanner in the works, the dead brother turns up...... This is a competent film but needed a bit more. Francis makes the film look too bright, a few more dark corners and shadows would have helped build the atmosphere some. Reed's acting doesn't shift from 'intense' mode, which is fine but a bit more ambiguity would have helped in this type of film. The plot plods along at times and could have done with being tightened; there's also plot lines that simply disappear as if Sangster had forgotten about them. At the end of the day a mediocre Hammer. Watch Nightmare to see how it should have been done.

The wealthy Ashby family grieves the tragedy of the death of the patriarch and matriarch Ashby in an airplane crash and their son Tony, who committed suicide, eleven years ago. Tony jumped off the cliff and his body was never found, only a suicide letter. Presently the dysfunctional Ashby family in composed by the alcoholic and reckless organist Simon Ashby (Oliver Reed); his unbalanced sister Eleanor (Janette Scott); and their overprotective aunt Harriet (Sheila Burrell) and their finances are managed by the accountant John Kossett (Maurice Denham), who tries to keep SImon under control. A couple of weeks before the due date for Simon receiving his inheritance, Tony Ashby (Alexander Davion) surprisingly appears for the joy of Eleanor, but Simon and Harriet believe he is an impostor despite his knowledge about the family. "Paranoiac" is an intriguing and suspenseful film by Hammer, with great storyline and deceptive conclusion. The screenplay builds tension and mystery with the viewer questioning whether tony is who he says. But unfortunately the rushed and senseless conclusion disappoints. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Paranóico" ("Paranoiac")

I just saw this film a few weeks ago & all I can say is wow! Reed plays this part without going over board the way some actors do when their playing a role like this. The story is regarding a young wealthy woman who see a man whom she thinks is her brother. Only one problem: he died many years ago. Once he enters her life, her other brother, played by Reed, doesn't take to kindly to this intrusion, especially considering the fact that he could lose out on his inheritance. If you love thrill rides, you'll love this one. Just make sure your seatbelt is fastened.

Simon Ashby (Oliver Reed) is a psychopath who is trying to scare his sister (Janette Scott) to death to get her share of their inheritance. Then their brother Tony (Alexander Davion) who supposedly committed suicide years before shows up. Then things get strange... Really odd film--very low key (for Hammer). For one thing it was shot in black and white, not the vivid color they usually used. Also there are no monsters here (unless you count Simon) and this is more of a thriller than a horror film. Still it works! It's beautifully directed by Freddie Francis and the plot itself has plenty of twists and turns to keep you off guard. The acting is good. Reed especially is fantastic--his violent rages are frightening and you can always see the madness lurking underneath him. Scott and Davion are both good-looking (especially Davion) and as good as they can be...considering they're given nothing to do. This is no masterpiece but a quick (only 80 minutes) and efficient thriller which keeps you entertained and guessing. Recommended.

You've often seen suspense movies in which a sudden revelation reverses everything that's come before. (Vertigo, for example.) In Paranoiac -- one of a raft of Psycho-inspired suspense thrillers from the early 60s-- these reverses come along practically every minute. The plot twists and re-twists itself over and over: Oliver Reed's brother is dead; no, he's alive, his sister saw him; no, his sister is crazy; no, Reed is trying to to make people think his sister is crazy so he can steal her inheritance; no... and that's just the first 10 minutes or so of this ingenious thriller. Highly recommended.

The film is about a dysfunctional English family who make the folks on the Jerry Springer show seem very normal in comparison! It seems that many years earlier, two rich parents were killed in a traffic accident--leaving their three children to be raised by a nutty aunt. However, only a few years later, one of the sons apparently kills himself--leaving a flaky and emotionally fragile daughter and a son who is a spoiled little monster. This spoiled monster is played by Oliver Reed and he looked like he was having fun with this vivid role--drinking, being emotionally unstable and being an all-around jerk! The sister, never the poster child for sound mental health, begins insisting that she's seen and heard the other brother--even though he is dead. When he actually turns up alive some time later, you are left wondering if this really is the dead brother or if it's a con man. Due to this return, however, Reed begins acting much more unstable and kooky--as this reappearance has apparently pushed him over the edge of sanity. How all this is resolved will keep you guessing and the film is a lot of fun even though it isn't exactly subtle. And, when the mysteries are all unraveled, you probably will like the the nice twists and turns. In many ways, the movie seems inspired by films such as PSYCHO and PARANOIAC in turn seems to be, at least in part, the inspiration for future films like STRAIGHT-JACKET--all shrill but exciting suspense films.

Subtle, beautifully-shot early Hammer chiller about revenge from beyond the grave - or is it? Starring a very young Oliver Reed("The Three Musketeers", "The Brood"), who plays Simon Ashby, a bad egg in a dreadfully upper-crusty family living on a posh estate in a tiny, isolated cowmunity. Simon and his unstable sister Eleanor, played by Janette Scott("Day of the Triffids"), believe their long-lost brother Tony, who apparently threw himself off a cliff 8 years earlier, has returned from his watery grave. Tony, played by Alexander Davion("Valley of the Dolls"), may not be who he claims to be, and half a million pounds inheritance is at stake. This is a subtle, quiet thriller, very much unlike the later, gorier Hammer horror classics. Overall, the cast delivers good performances, especially Scott, but Reed always seems to be on the verge of careering out of control, in that plucky, "William Shatner-esque" way of overacting he posesses. A little dull for some tastes, "Paranoiac" nevertheless is a good film to watch if only to enjoy the lovely black & white cinematography, and to enjoy the plot's many twists. Director Freddie Francis went on to direct such Hammer classics as "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors", and "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave". The MooCow says this slight Hammer classic is worth a cheapie rent, so check it out soon! ;=8)

The presence of a very young Oliver Reed alone should encourage fans of older films to view this one. Reed is very impressive as the spoiled rich kid who never fails to surprise us with what he will do to get his way. He is days away from a large inheritance when his deceased brother shows up at the front door. Nothing is quite what it seems. Is he an imposter or not? Is Reed's sister crazy or not? Does the family have something to hide or not? The ending is not really a surprise but still packs quite a jolt and is a suitable ending to a very fine and underrated film. Available on video.