Strait-Jacket

Strangely plotted thriller couples the talents of Crawford and writer Bloch with schlockmeister extraordinaire Castle. So yeah, it's basicly Psycho aimed at the gay demographic, but regardless it's still a very enjoyable romp. OK, that came out wrong.

Between the style and the gloriously silly Scooby-doo ending, there's enough to keep you interested, even if the movie as a whole is a mishmash melodrama.

Wonderfully fun and overhyped the way only William Castle did it. SHE'S INSANE! SHE'S INSANE! Also love what they did to the Columbia Pictures logo at the end

William Castle sets out to prove what we've all secretly known deep down: That all melodramas should feature mentally unstable axe murderers. I absolutely loved this from the opening shot and to the very last line of dialogue. Larger than life performance by Crawford and a delightfully over the top score makes this an extremely entertaining watch.

Interesting from an audio perspective, in so far that it is from the 'one volume fits all' school of sound editing. Also it has a particularly hilarious 'what have we learned today, Johnny' kind of ending. Joan Crawford is acting her socks off, and Diane Baker is cute as buttons, but it won't take a modern day viewer long to figure out what other movie it riffs on. Hint: It's 'Psycho'.

Starts out as a mediocre trashy B-movie, but gets pretty good at the end.

There's a humour, no doubt about it, to the way Castle yanks everything, from central performance to music, up to a fever pitch. This also gets bothersome, though. Whether or not you have an idea about where the movie is going, the ending is quite good.

The story was kind of fun, although predictable. Joan Crawford's overacting and general unpleasantness were really annoying though.

Great opening then the rest mostly just a vehicle for Crawford to do her thing.

Thin George Kennedy.

Deliciously fun camp.

Joan Crawford is perfect for this role, but I don't want to deny Diane Baker her due, who gives perhaps an even better performance. Intense and somewhat scary, but mostly it's just a wonderful time.

Poor woman's Psycho which pretty well telegraphs its plot. Still the ending is rather haunting. Joan gives a well thought out performance, but Diane Baker is who really sells it in the end.

I feel bad for Joan Crawford, just because she is one of the greatest actors of all-time, yet was stuck doing these B-films in her later years. On the other hand, she is absolutely crushing these roles. Like if you stuck Steph Curry on a G-League team.

Okay, this has to be one of the funniest movies ever. Between Robert Bloch's ham-handed script and Crawford's overwrought performance, I was laughing so hard I thought stuff was gonna come out of my nose! The premise is pretty much set up by the opening sequence (so no great mystery there). Also, hard not to think of Joan and Christina while you're watching this...especially when she's wielding that ax (look out for the roses!). One good turn: George Kennedy as the shabbily insolent handyman.

watched: 2017, 2022

Almas Mortas estreava há 60 anos nos EUA. Esse Castle é mezzo óbvio mezzo, surpresa, já que dá pra saber mais ou menos o final pelo início e pelo fato do roteirista ser o Robert Bloch, mas nem por isso deixa de ser uma jornada maravilhosa sobre as old hags dos anos 60. YTS.

Moderately creepy grade B slasher is lifted somewhat by Crawford.

William Castle clearly intends this as a "Psycho" cash-in going so far as to commission that book's author Robert Bloch to write the screenplay. It's a lot broader and more pulpy and melodramatic, but that's really a good thing. Crawford plays it big. Kennedy plays it big. Really ... the movie itself plays it big. The identity of the killer is pretty obvious, but this is a lot of fun.

Robert Bloch pens yet another Psycho, also meant to capitalize on Crawford's previous vehicle, Baby Jane. Crawford really hams it up as always, and though it telegraphs the twist, nothing prepares the viewer for the explanatory finale's ludicrosity (it's even worse than Psycho's).