FRIGHTMARE (1974)
aka FRIGHTMARE II Directed by Pete Walker
Image Entertainment DVD
THE FILM
In 1962, The Crystals sang, "He's a rebel and he'll never ever be understood." The Phil Spector production was a runaway #1 hit in the U.S., but peaked at #19 on the UK pop charts. Guess the Brits weren't as receptive to the "rebel" concept, huh? Enter P. Walker, UK arse-kicker.
British director Pete Walker jumped from sexploitation to horror in the early 1970s, with the sole intention of stirring things up. Lashing out at the stale state of 70s UK horror, Walker rebelled with a series of downbeat shockers, usually laced with social themes and a taste for the nasty. Unlike Norman J. Warren (Satan's Slave), another British director making his mark around the same time, Walker's films are not mindless gutter romps. There's an artistry to his work; fluid, studied camera movements project the gore and talented actors gurgle up through the grit. Pete's work is an overseas penpal to the abrasive American underground of the mid 1970s. If Bob Clark (Black Christmas, Deathdream) sealed the envelope, then Pete Walker was the guy who licked the stamps. Widely considered Walker’s most consistent film, Frightmare is a real pip. Low budget horror just doesn't get much fresher than this.
Hey Jackie, what's in the bloody bag?! The likable Jackie (Deborah Fairfax) lives in a flat with her delinquent little sister, Debbie (Kim Butcher). Debbie's got a flair for violence and getting her way. As the days fly by, Jackie finds it harder and harder to control her sis's sass. So what's the deal? Where is Jackie sneaking off to in the middle of the night? Why is she so secretive about her family? And where are Mom and Pop?! The enjoyment behind Frightmare banks on not knowing what's coming next. So that's all you're going to get. One thing's for sure: you'll never look at creepy old ladies the same way again. Chomp, chomp.
All together, Frightmare is a marvel of effectively layered techniques. It's genuinely shocking (the climax/ending most prominently), embossed with slight social concepts (nature vs. nurture, failings of the justice system), and filled with terrific direction (intentionally abrupt edits, lively camera work). The script unfolds evenly as the film progresses, unveiling puzzles and building tension as each gory dilemma passes. As for the actors? Not a rotten egg in the bunch. That’s a key point too. The leads deliver deranged material that would fall flat in less-than-proficient hands (again, have a look at Norman J. Warren's Terror for a stellar example). The combination of unquestionable creepiness and admirable intelligence adds up to a rare bird indeed. Frightmare is a horror film that retains the competency to derail you, even thirty years after its release.
Today, Pete Walker remains a little known name in the province of 70s horror. Maybe Phil Spector was right. Then again, after witnessing a film like Frightmare, I couldn’t care less if anyone else in the world understands it. I’m just glad I do.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Presented full frame, the film looks quite excellent. Crisp as a button and very light on damage. There's a bit of slight ghosting during darker scenes, but I emphasize the "slight." The mono sound was perfectly clear and enjoyable.
EXTRAS
This is an early DVD release. A chapter stop screen that doubles as a main menu? Beware of Y2K.
FINAL THOUGHTS
No doubt about it. Pete Walker's Frightmare is a masterpiece of grim horror, an overlooked eye-opener with a chip on its shoulder and attitude to spare. Be thankful for this one; horror films with this much power are few and far between.
— Joseph A. Ziemba, 10.21.05 | 
Who's on her party line?
Cinema slump
Hiya, Jackie!
Heed the cards
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