Strait-Jacket (1964)

After a 20 year stay at an asylum for a double murder, a mother returns to her estranged daughter where suspicions arise about her behavior. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: William Castle
Written By: Robert Bloch
Starring: George Kennedy, Rochelle Hudson, Joan Crawford, Leif Erickson, Diane Baker, Howard St. John, John Anthony Hayes
Genres: Suspense/Thriller, Horror
Country: USA
Where to Stream
Loading...


Strait-Jacket belongs to 9 collections
1. Psychotic women (public: moderated by mattburgess - 5 stars)
2. The Overlook Film Encyclopedia: Horror 1960s (public: moderated by RoyalB - 1 star)
3. High contrast black and white cinematography (public: moderated by juandr - 1 star)
4. Camp (public)
5. Grand Dame Guignol (public: moderated by CCLZA)
6. slashergirl's "Cheesey" Fave's (public)
7. The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst (private: teckgecko - 2 stars)
8. The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies (book) (private: Ag0stoMesmer - 1 star)
9. Powerhouse Films Releases (private: kjones77)
Browse the full list of collections
Date | User | Rating | |
May 31 | ![]() |
WesleyCrushR | 70 60% |
May 04 | ![]() |
pck00 | 82 31% |
Feb 11 | ![]() |
nina sayers | 53 63% |
Jan 10 | ![]() |
rihrey | 53 65% |
Dec 29, 2021 | kasetti | 70 25% |
|
Oct 10, 2021 | ![]() |
chadisdanger | 74 36% |
Aug 31, 2021 | ![]() |
IMDBv2 | 68 55% |
Jul 02, 2021 | fkincoffee | 40 36% |
|
May 10, 2021 | ![]() |
RTAudience | 65 48% |
Dec 16, 2020 | ![]() |
FrancoGonzo | 15 80% |
Oct 27, 2020 | lalangue | 50 12% |
|
Oct 17, 2020 | wimcalp | 70 66% |
|
Oct 09, 2020 | KingBread | 50 19% |
|
Aug 13, 2020 | ![]() |
ylajali | 15 4% |
Jul 13, 2020 | ![]() |
TheShiznit | 55 68% |
Jun 13, 2020 | D Lightman | 50 16% |
|
Jun 03, 2020 | flipperrbm | 4 31% |
|
Apr 19, 2020 | ![]() |
dlthompson | 100 94% |
Apr 02, 2020 | ![]() |
Wolfbrother | 85 68% |
Oct 06, 2019 | kjones77 | 70 43% |
|
Oct 03, 2019 | dragos | 80 86% |
|
Sep 22, 2019 | gackt | 60 28% |
|
May 24, 2019 | doyler29 | 70 36% |
|
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.
|
|||
Apr 23, 2019 | AHALE80 | 80 71% |
|
Mar 04, 2019 | ![]() |
Brewster | 80 90% |
Mar 04, 2019 | ![]() |
zmoats | 80 56% |
Feb 28, 2019 | ![]() |
jeff_v | 67 49% |
Jan 23, 2019 | knives | 73 51% |
|
Jan 19, 2019 | ![]() |
Lionel Hutz | 51 50% |
Sep 19, 2018 | ![]() |
bubsy | 3 31% |
Jul 26, 2018 | ![]() |
CMQuinn | 80 71% |
Jun 29, 2018 | ![]() |
FreddieQuell | 67 54% |
May 10, 2018 | whiteshadow | 70 27% |
|
Apr 25, 2018 | fictionfitz | 80 80% |
|
Apr 16, 2018 | AchwellFoley | 89 95% |
|
Mar 13, 2018 | ![]() |
jmsenise | 75 57% |
Mar 07, 2018 | zomgmouse | 60 18% |
|
Feb 16, 2018 | ![]() |
Videogirl88 | 94 84% |
Jan 15, 2018 | Znep27 | 50 26% |
|
Jan 15, 2018 | M-B-M | 4 32% |
|
Nov 29, 2017 | Cocoa | 80 89% |
|
Sep 23, 2017 | 92filmgeek | 56 30% |
|
Aug 31, 2017 | izwt936g | 86 82% |
|
Jun 30, 2017 | ![]() |
Darren | 85 84% |
Jun 16, 2017 | ![]() |
hulot | 80 83% |
May 09, 2017 | ![]() |
Robart | 80 72% |
Mar 29, 2017 | ![]() |
robot2xl | 73 48% |
Mar 09, 2017 | ![]() |
RYM-byrates | 70 79% |
Feb 24, 2017 | ![]() |
Walterpoa | 60 28% |
Oct 08, 2016 | ![]() |
Dorkovsky | 5 59% |
Sep 21, 2016 | ![]() |
ambient_gf | 80 80% |
Jul 10, 2016 | ![]() |
ugur | 7 57% |
Jul 04, 2016 | Col_Needham | 80 78% |
|
Feb 29, 2016 | ![]() |
Moribunny | 40 27% |
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).
|
|||
Oct 01, 2015 | lynchian | 70 56% |
|
Aug 28, 2015 | ![]() |
Mr. Mxyzptlk | 100 0% |
Jul 20, 2015 | bensonmum2 | 70 65% |
|
Jul 20, 2015 | WilliamOTyle | 70 56% |
|
Jul 06, 2015 | JennSicu79 | 88 82% |
|
May 20, 2015 | ![]() |
porzano | 58 67% |
May 13, 2015 | preppy-3 | 70 53% |
|
May 09, 2015 | JoeB131 | 50 63% |
|
Dec 05, 2014 | brianmn | 50 28% |
|
Nov 23, 2014 | ![]() |
sebby | 70 71% |
Nov 12, 2014 | ![]() |
mattd124 | 78 66% |
Nov 11, 2014 | ![]() |
fact100 | 61 47% |
Oct 23, 2014 | ![]() |
paah | 90 96% |
Jun 08, 2014 | ![]() |
chiefcuster | 60 57% |
May 14, 2014 | Groooan | 27 49% |
|
Mar 30, 2014 | donquixotic | 60 51% |
|
Mar 10, 2014 | ![]() |
Grouchy | 80 53% |
Feb 09, 2014 | ![]() |
ChrisReynold | 58 34% |
Jan 11, 2014 | Gabrielbilly | 80 39% |
|
Dec 11, 2013 | ![]() |
CCLZA | 70 51% |
Sep 29, 2013 | ![]() |
Ryderlol | 60 39% |
Sep 22, 2013 | eitan62 | 75 48% |
|
Aug 12, 2013 | Barkinson | 50 39% |
|
Aug 10, 2013 | ![]() |
Sheldrake | 60 51% |
May 02, 2013 | sweetpeas | 81 86% |
|
Apr 14, 2013 | ![]() |
Magmadiver | 69 31% |
Apr 12, 2013 | ![]() |
Lobo_Lopez | 45 13% |
Apr 08, 2013 | tyoda | 15 9% |
|
Mar 27, 2013 | ![]() |
johnatanjj | 89 80% |
Mar 18, 2013 | Cronos | 10 2% |
|
Feb 22, 2013 | Ronin21 | 64 17% |
|
Feb 18, 2013 | ![]() |
FrederikA | 60 50% |
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.
|
|||
Feb 18, 2013 | ![]() |
DavidBlast | 50 44% |
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'.
|
|||
Jan 06, 2013 | ![]() |
Elisheva | 82 61% |
Nov 16, 2012 | ![]() |
TheSaberfool | 42 33% |
Oct 05, 2012 | ![]() |
MadMan | 83 45% |
Oct 02, 2012 | ![]() |
mightysparks | 60 68% |
The story was kind of fun, although predictable. Joan Crawford's overacting and general unpleasantness were really annoying though.
|
|||
Sep 08, 2012 | ![]() |
edsu | 8 81% |
Aug 30, 2012 | ![]() |
avgcrtckr | 58 61% |
Aug 19, 2012 | ![]() |
iconogassed | 90 89% |
Jul 01, 2012 | ![]() |
IMDb-byvotes | 68 42% |
Jun 15, 2012 | ![]() |
mattburgess | 76 76% |
Jun 13, 2012 | ![]() |
deadsloth | 82 60% |
May 08, 2012 | ![]() |
??? | 45 26% |
Apr 07, 2012 | ![]() |
Gordon Cole | 64 42% |
Feb 05, 2012 | jwill602 | 80 22% |
|
Nov 13, 2011 | ![]() |
jodamico | 76 54% |
Nov 05, 2011 | daystron7 | 51 37% |
|
Oct 19, 2011 | ![]() |
PeaceAnarchy | 89 92% |
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.
|
|||
Oct 13, 2011 | Plaza | 7 64% |
|
Oct 05, 2011 | ![]() |
elmakebabi | 68 56% |
Sep 30, 2011 | CritickerAvg | 58 58% |
|
Aug 23, 2011 | filmcricket | 68 70% |
|
Jul 16, 2011 | ![]() |
BillyShears | 75 65% |
Thin George Kennedy.
|
|||
Jun 12, 2011 | ![]() |
KasperL | 70 65% |
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.
|
|||
Jun 03, 2011 | ![]() |
MArkjp | 90 89% |
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.
|
|||
Nov 28, 2010 | ![]() |
x-human | 72 35% |
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.
|
|||
Sep 30, 2010 | comanchex | 46 9% |
|
Sep 25, 2010 | PaulCurtis | 80 44% |
|
Sep 23, 2010 | Al Chambers | 63 5% |
|
May 12, 2010 | Pingy | 88 56% |
|
May 02, 2010 | ![]() |
isabellacn | 78 65% |
Nov 28, 2009 | nunstrangler | 57 35% |
|
Moderately creepy grade B slasher is lifted somewhat by Crawford.
|
|||
Oct 21, 2009 | ![]() |
JooJoo | 5 80% |
Deliciously fun camp.
|
|||
Jul 01, 2009 | ![]() |
Jgirl2688 | 75 43% |
May 02, 2009 | ![]() |
filmaffinity | 64 59% |
Apr 26, 2009 | ![]() |
Carlospro | 90 97% |
Apr 22, 2009 | ![]() |
imdb | 67 59% |
Apr 03, 2009 | hungrybear | 6 43% |
|
Mar 23, 2009 | moviesinhell | 63 21% |
|
Mar 22, 2009 | ![]() |
RCMERCHANT | 75 57% |
Mar 04, 2009 | cblur21 | 75 74% |
|
Mar 02, 2009 | aaaaaaarrggg | 71 73% |
|
Jan 20, 2009 | ![]() |
potatohead | 72 46% |
Nov 15, 2008 | ![]() |
Dean Franz | 85 84% |
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.
|
|||
Oct 28, 2008 | ![]() |
tonydal | 60 21% |
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.
|
|||
Mar 14, 2008 | ![]() |
ZombieBuffet | 70 82% |
Feb 27, 2008 | ![]() |
Zoltan | 85 94% |
Feb 03, 2008 | ![]() |
Stain | 90 86% |
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
|
|||
Oct 13, 2007 | ![]() |
kangadoodoo | 60 53% |
Aug 14, 2007 | ![]() |
KungFuDolly | 1 4% |
Aug 14, 2007 | ![]() |
MartinTeller | 72 41% |
Starts out as a mediocre trashy B-movie, but gets pretty good at the end.
|
|||
Aug 14, 2007 | zeus1979 | 90 82% |
|
Jul 18, 2007 | ![]() |
evanfrrll | 85 75% |
Jun 26, 2007 | ![]() |
supergloo | 1 1% |
Average Percentile 54% from 139 Ratings | ![]() |