Rent Symptoms (1974)

Spoilers follow ... - Symptoms review by NP

Considered a lost film since its last showing on television in 1983, this carefully paced, deeply atmospheric tale is only beginning to find a new level of appreciation since its rediscovery. Peter Vaughn, often cast as ‘heavies’ at the time is quietly menacing as Brady, the ‘odd job man. Lorna Leilbron, who was so good in ‘The Creeping Flesh’ plays Anne, eminently sensible and unflappable. And, providing an amazing performance, Angel Pleasance plays Helen, who lives in her huge inherited estate in the middle of the secluded English countryside, convalescing from some undisclosed breakdown and yet still clearly suffering. Whilst not quite as other-worldly as she was in ‘From Beyond the Grave’ earlier in the year, her more subtle playing of quiet madness reveals itself as the story plays on.

The storyline is thin and it comes as a huge non-surprise to find the deranged killer on Anne and other sundry characters is Helen. And yet the fact that Brady is too obviously a red herring (although hardly unimpeachable) doesn’t disappoint because Pleasance plays it so fascinatingly well.

You Might Very Well Be Shocked. - Symptoms review by Cato

Apparently this film was "found" quite recently after having been lost some decades before. It's a mysterious offering, and if you find the actresses rather demure to begin with, by the end you will certainly be shocked, as there is plenty of spine tingling on the way. Angela Pleasence is the most unlikely of the characters to have been a suspect, but watch and you will certainly be surprised. Often the way in "whodunnit"s, but this is a clever film, and I wasn't surprised that the director was Spanish, as that country has a history of rather sadistic stories on the cinema front. Not to be sneezed at though. Peter Vaughan is the man of mystery lurking around in the grounds of the very scary house, with it's threatening trees surrounding a somewhat forbidding lake. The film is reminiscent of Polanski's "Repulsion", and some think it may even be an improvement on that classic psychological thriller. You have been warned.

Atmospheric but undercoooked thriller. - Symptoms review by LC

There's plenty to enjoy in this 'Psycho'-style horror - it's well shot, the performances are fine, and it's heavy on moody atmosphere. At the same time, it has to be said that the pace is rather slow, and the climax is ultimately underwhelming. A lot of good build up, but this ultimately a film that slightly fizzles out.