LET’S KILL UNCLE

US, 1966, 92 minutes, Colour.
Nigel Green, Mary Badham.
Directed by William Castle.

Let’s Kill Uncle is rather preposterous in its plot and in its execution but one of those exaggerated films which is hugely enjoyable except that the ending is a bit flat although it does mean that Uncle is not exactly killed. Nigel Green seems to enjoy himself in a manic kind of role and the young boy and girl relish the opportunities of their plans to kill their uncle. Attractively and colourfully photographed, the film was directed by William Castle who is noted for his lack of subtlety in his brief shockers, The Night Stalker, I Saw What You Did. This is probably one of Castle’s better films.

1. How entertaining a thriller and horror story? The broad tone and the blunt thrills? The elements of parody?

2. Audience expectations from this broad kind of screenplay? The murderous intentions of Uncle? Of the children? The implications of violence and cruelty? The devices of terror portrayed? The ending?

3. Colour and location photography, horror sets especially the old hotel? The island setting? The special effects especially of terror? Why were they effective - for frights? Musical score?

4. How credible was the plot? The financial situation of Barnaby? The background of Major Harrison's heroics? Chrissie and her relationship to her Aunt? The Ketchman in the hotel? The island itself and what went on? The elements from old-fashioned horror stories?

5. The focus on Major Harrison as a war hero? As a calculating person? His very British tone? The attempts on Barnaby? The turning of the tables? His comeuppance and his escape? Any audience sympathy with him?

6. The contract with Barnaby and Chrissie? Ordinary children, extraordinary? Their clashes on the boat? Chrissie and her background with Aunt Justine? Barnaby and his devotion to his Uncle? The realization that he was to be killed? Why did he and Chrissie decide to kill Uncle? The credibility of the cat-and-mouse techniques and the various attempts like the poisoning? The sharks? The atmosphere of the disused hotel? Each helping the other? Were their motives plausible - did this matter for the film?

7. The background romance and heroics of Justine and Travis? Ordinary human beings in such a story, to the rescue at the end? Romantic?

8. Comment on the irony of the attempted killings, for example, the meal, Uncle outwitting them, the sharks, the Ketchman and his pretending to be dead? Uncle going into the pool and yet escaping? The effectiveness of the ending or a cop-out?

9. Themes of greed, murder and violence? What value is this kind of ironic and mock melodrama?