Homicidal

And just WHY wasn't Joan Marshall given an academy award for this??? Unfortunately, they just don't make movies like this anymore, and we're a worse place for it.

Suspenseful, unpredictable, and highly entertaining! I liked the "Fright Break" which allows frightened viewers to leave the theater :-)

Excellent riff on Psycho, sacrificing ambiguity and hovering menace for bawdy, gotta-love-em thrills. It's not subtle, it sheds no light on the darker side of the human condition and it certainly doesn't reinvent the language of the thriller, the way it's obvious inspiration did... but it is a sweet fucking ride while it lasts.

Is this a cheap ripoff of Psycho? No doubt it is, but its campy dialogue, hokey yet unhinged atmosphere, and gruesome visuals makes it oddly intriguing and a lot of fun, even if it is nowhere near Psycho's league in terms of quality.

Worthwhile in the usual William Castle mold. These movies are such great filler when you're not in the mood for anything remotely serious. LOL fright break

Fun B-movie thriller with well executed tension and a hint of campy fun. Sure it's predictable, but it's still a well put together plot with some neat moments and entertaining performances. Not really a ripoff of Psycho either, though they do share some elements.

So that's why Warren talked like a ventriloquist's dummy!

Homicidal is William Castle's flawed attempt to replicate Psycho, and it's done so blatantly and in such a charmingly gimmicky fashion that one can almost forgive it. It's a real shame that Castle doesn't channel the same kind of effort into the rest of the film as he does in the last 15 minutes, where there's a solid effort at creating tension, nice use of light/shadow, and a killer twist.

A predictable murder mystery romp that manages to be well made and enjoyable.

If tacky B-level thrillers are your thing, check this out. It's a really lame attempt at a psychological thriller and a cheap rip-off of Psycho. The script is annoying - at its worst when it dips into the psycho-babble near the end - and the acting is just plain bad. The visuals are sleek, but the editing is shoddy and the music is way over-the-top.

watched: 2018, 2020

Call it inspiration or homage or ripoff, this is clearly influenced by PSYCHO. Castle's take on it has some ludicrous stuff but is a ton of fun. The film really keeps you guessing for the first half. There's a final reveal that's telegraphed far too early but it's all so giddily twisted and enjoyable. Marshall is a delight and the film has pretty good production value. The score is well done, and there are some terrific shots. Definitely one of the better Castle productions.

An odd and rather silly murder mystery albeit with a certain camp appeal. Heavily influenced by Hitchcock, including his visual compositions. Of special interest is Joan Marshall's dual role. It's not exactly a powerhouse performance (far from it), just fascinatingly unusual.

My love for the fright meter and disappointment that 3D blu-rays never caught on proves I am a fool for gimmicks.

The Danish Girl.