FEAR IN THE NIGHT
UK, 1972, 85 minutes, Colour.
Peter Cushing, Judy Geeson, Joan Collins, Ralph Bates.
Directed by Jimmy Sangster.
Fear in the Night is quite a good horror film from the Hammer Studios, early '70s. Judy Geeson is the beleaguered heroine. Ralph Bates is the sympathetic and suave hero who is revealed to be villain. Joan Collins is the villainess. Peter Cushing has yet another interesting Hammer role as the mad schoolteacher. The film was written by Jimmy Sangster, expert in writing many of the horror screenplays. The film has good locations, mystery and suspense - and the. touch of horror. Very good of its kind.
1. An entertaining horror film? The conventions of horror and madness, conspiracy to murder? The Hammer horror style - subtlety and directness?
2. English locations, the school? The use of colour in daytime and dark? Special effects? Musical score and mood?
3. The portrait of the school, the British tradition of schools (and films about schools)? Peggy and the. tour, the atmosphere, the headmaster and his style (Peter Cushing manner), the countryside? A place for horror? The framework of the film with the hanged man and the air of mystery?
4. The focus on Peggy: her breakdown, her marrying Bob, the phone call and the attack on her, calling the police? The. atmosphere of fear? Her arrival and the tour of the school? The set-up for fear, meeting Michael, the second attack, the shooting of the rabbit, Bob's absences, the night attack, her fear and running through the school, her refusing to answer questions, the final terror in the school, her madness, her joining Michael in, the school? A credible portrait of breakdown and terror?
5. Bob and his pleasant manner, ordinary man, behaviour, credible, his treatment of Peggy, marriage, concern, the encounters with Molly, helping Michael? The ironic twists and the truth about him, the liaison with Molly, his growing desperation, shooting Michael? Greed? The hanging?
6. Peter Cushing's style as Michael, the tour of the school, the story about the school closing down and his living in the past, reliance on Bob, his being shot by Peggy? The cleverness of his plan, unmasking Bob and Molly? His winning the contest? Peggy staying with him?
7. Molly as sculptress, Michael’s wife, presence in the school, the shooting, the liaison with Bob, her attacks on Peggy, the truth, her cruelty, the irony of her death?
8. The small cast, atmosphere in the enclosed environment of the school? A blend of action and talk?
9. A murder mystery - and variations on the theme? Greed, lust, cruelty?
10. An exploration of character and themes via horror conventions?
