Nightmare - 1964 film

Nightmare is a low-budget Hammer movie from 1964 that didn't make a huge impact on its original release. In more recent times, however, a number of critics - including the insightful Sergio Angelini - have expressed appreciation for its twisty plot. So I decided to take a look. The screenwriter and producer was Jimmy Sangster, no stranger to melodrama, and the director was the accomplished camera man Freddie Francis. The title is far from original but at least it's better than the unspeakably bad working title: Here's the Knife, Dear: Now Use it.

The film begins with a young woman of seventeen wandering around a gloomy old building at night and finding herself tormented by another, older woman. This turns out to be a nightmare, and Janet, the young woman in question, proves to be deeply troubled by an incident from her past. She's played by Jennie Linden; the role was originally to be taken by Julie Christie, until she got the chance to appear in that terrific film Billy Liar instead, and wisely seized it. Jennie Linden is okay in the role, but she's no Julie Christie. Her performance is rather one-dimensional.

Accompanied by a sympathetic teacher (Brenda Bruce), Janet goes back home, where she's the responsibility of her guardian, Henry Baxter (David Knight), to whom she is devoted. Henry has arranged for her to be looked after by a companion, Grace (Moira Redmond) and the housekeeper and chauffeur (Irene Richmond and George A. Cooper, who for once plays a sympathetic character) are also supportive of her. But poor Janet continues to be tormented.

There are some jarring elements in the storyline (early on, for instance, we're told that everything in Janet's family life was wonderful - until the day her mother stabbed her father to death - which seems a little hard to believe) and David Knight is unimpressive in a key role. However, the events unfold at a brisk pace and this kept me interested. Not a lost classic by any means, but okay viewing.