Review of Keep My Grave Open

Tormented and reclusive Lesley Fontaine (a splendidly modulated performance by Camilla Carr), who resides in a dismal mansion, is haunted by visions of her missing brother Kevin and resorts to murder in order to guard her privacy. Do-It-Yourself regional Texas auteur S.F. Brownrigg and writer F. Amos Powell do a bang-up job of creating and sustaining a powerfully grim and depressing atmosphere of seething madness and anguish that becomes more increasingly bleak, strange, and harrowing as the downbeat story unfolds towards an uncompromising bummer ending. Moreover, Brownrigg presents a vivid evocation of the desolate rural area and conveys a strong feeling of underlying despair and melancholy that gives this picture an unexpectedly wrenching poignancy (Lesley's inexorable descent into homicidal insanity is truly heartbreaking to behold). Indeed, this movie makes a valid and provocative point about how loneliness can drive someone dangerously crazy. The fine acting from the able cast keeps everything humming: Carr does stand-out work in the lead, with sound support from Gene Ross as concerned physician Dr. Emerson, Stephen Tobolowky in his film debut as the hopelessly awkward Robert, Ann Stafford as the perky Suzie, Sharon Bunn as brash prostitute Twinkle, and Chelcie Ross as Lesley's long lost brother Kevin. Popping up in small roles are the ubiquitous Bill Thurman as an ill-fated hitchhiker and Brownrigg regular Annabelle Weenick as whorehouse madam Clara. Both Janis P. Valtenbergs' fairly polished cinematography and Robert Farrar's moody'n'wonky score are up to par. Worth a watch.