Angry young Chris Miller (sharply played by Marisol) and her equally bitter stepmother Ruth (a fine performance by Jean Seberg) live together in a lonely mansion located in the country. Complications ensue when mysterious drifter Barney Webster (a solid and likeable portrayal by the hunky Barry Stokes) shows up looking for shelter. Meanwhile, a sickle-wielding psycho bumps folks off in the area.
Director Juan Antonio Bardem relates the complex and compelling story at a measured, yet steady pace, maintains a strong gloomy tone throughout, ably crafts a tense and uneasy atmosphere, and pulls out the exciting stops for a few bloody murder set pieces. Santiago Moncada's dark and daring script not only addresses the bleak themes of jealousy and revenge head on, but also delivers a few neat'n'nasty twists. Moreover, the remote rural setting projects a potently unsettling sense of isolation and vulnerability while the swanky house main location serves as a seething hotbed of repression and resentment. Both Juan Gelpi's sumptuous widescreen cinematography and Waldo de los Rios's lush orchestral score further enhance the excellent quality of this unjustly neglected little sleeper.
Director Juan Antonio Bardem relates the complex and compelling story at a measured, yet steady pace, maintains a strong gloomy tone throughout, ably crafts a tense and uneasy atmosphere, and pulls out the exciting stops for a few bloody murder set pieces. Santiago Moncada's dark and daring script not only addresses the bleak themes of jealousy and revenge head on, but also delivers a few neat'n'nasty twists. Moreover, the remote rural setting projects a potently unsettling sense of isolation and vulnerability while the swanky house main location serves as a seething hotbed of repression and resentment. Both Juan Gelpi's sumptuous widescreen cinematography and Waldo de los Rios's lush orchestral score further enhance the excellent quality of this unjustly neglected little sleeper.