Thursday 18 March 2010

TWISTED NERVE

(1968) Directed by Roy Boulting, with Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, Billie Whitelaw and Barry Foster.



Spoiled psychopath Hywel Bennett charms his way into the household of daughter Hayley Mills and mother Billie Whitelaw by pretending to be "simple". Solid performances all round highlight this decent Hitchcock-style flick that's worth seeing, but is dated by some then-current and uncomfortable chat about chromosomes and "Mongols" and plenty of, ummmmm... jokey references to Salmaan Peerzada's Indian house guest. A couple of standout scenes. This is the kind of flick "Twisted Nerve" wants to be...



...but more often than not it's more like this...



"Twisted Nerve" memorably features a terrific Bernard Herrmann score with a whistling theme that's perhaps a bit overused. Tarantino also used this effective tune in "Kill Bill Vol.1", whistled by Elle Driver as she makes her way down the hospital hall to assassinate Beatrice Kiddo.




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