A host of wonderful, veteran British faces pop up in this thriller/horror directed by Michael Anderson who, with Jenny Agutter, would bring ‘Logan’s Run’ to a cinema near you a few years later. Underused thesps Jack Warden, Ron Moody, and Flora Robson (who beneath her wig, looks uncannily like Peter Cushing!) support the magnificent Jean Simmons as the titular character. Playing her husband David is Cliff Robertson, an actor who gives a good performance despite never appearing to actually *do* anything. Simon Ward plays David’s newly hired chauffeur.
As a horror film, this doesn’t quite work. It’s much more satisfying to be viewed as a steady thriller with creepy elements. Some say the twists and turns in the plot are predictable, but I was happy to go along with it all - even its admittedly overloaded finale. The direction is moody, the cinematography Bava-esque rich, and much use is made of silence at pivotal moments, which is a refreshing alternative to an over-saturating score the like of which are often served up in productions of this nature.
Jean Simmons steals it though – alive or dead! My score is 7 out of 10.