Flist

Die! Die! My Darling! (1965) dir. Silvio Narizzano

Patricia Carroll (Stefanie Powers) and her fiancé Alan Glentower (Maurice Kaufmann) are back in London after a couple of years in America. Alan has to take care of some business, so Patricia decides she needs to finally make a condolence visit to the mother of her former fiancé Stephen, who died in a car accident. She never actually met Mrs. Trefoile (Tallulah Bankhead) before Stephen's death, but wants to share her sympathy over the woman's loss. As it happens, Mrs. Trefoile is a wealthy widow with a small country estate and big house, most of which is disused.

Stephen's mother turns out to be a religious fanatic, spurning such frivolities as makeup, telephones and bright clothing. Even though Patricia meant for her visit to be perhaps an hour, Mrs. Trefoile prevails upon her to stay the night so that they may pray in church together for Stephen's soul the next morning. After that prayer, it becomes apparent that Mrs. Trefoile has...extreme...views on the sanctity of marriage, and considers Patricia to Have been married to Stephen. The older woman has no intention of letting Patricia out into the world again.

This Hammer Horror film was part of a minor boom of movies starring actresses of a certain age in Gothic tales of murder and suspense. It was, at least, a decent paycheck for women who no longer got the steady work of younger days. As such, Tallulah Bankhead is definitely the star of the movie and plays the role with great vigor. The script was adapted to have Mrs. Trefoile be an actress in her youth, before her conversion, so that the production could use old glamour pictures of Ms. Bankhead.

Of course, a frail old woman probably couldn't keep a vigorous young one imprisoned without help, so the widow has a trio of servants. Harry (Peter Vaughan) and Anna (Yootha Joyce) are a married couple with their own secrets and reasons for obeying their employer's every whim. Joseph (Donald Sutherland) is a developmentally disabled odd-job man, friendly but loyal to Mrs. Trefoile.

The early part of the movie is kind of painful. the cringy horror of being the guest of someone whose opinions you don't share or really respect but don't want to conflict with. There's a scene where dinner is about to be served, and Mrs. Trefoile begins reading aloud the pre-meal Scripture. It's still daylight when she begins, but dark when she finishes and they can finally eat.

Once the imprisonment begins, the movie livens up as Patricia tries various means to try to escape, and the household starts to fall apart. And eventually Alan's going to come looking, so that's a deadline that has to be dealt with.

As is often the case with Hammer, the film doesn't look at all cheap despite the modest budget. Most of the action in the house is well-lighted, not needing night or shadows to do its work.

Content note: Murder, assorted minor mayhem, some blood. Mention of suicide. Attempted sexual assault. Slut-shaming. Implied extramarital sex. Late teens on up should be fine.

With some light suspension of disbelief at some of Patricia's stupider decisions, this is a fine old thriller, though most recommended to fans of classic old actresses getting to be over the top.