The Fiend (1972)

Director:

Robert Hartford-Davis

Writer:

Brian Comport (screenplay)

Release Date:

May 1972 (UK)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

It's a Sickness of the Soul!

Plot:

Led by a sinister minister, a controlling religious sect called the Brethren has taken control of widow Birdy Wemys...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Nude Woman Murdered | Drowning | Sexual Repression | Strangulation

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ann Todd	...	Birdy Wemys
Patrick Magee	...	Minister
Tony Beckley	...	Kenny Wemys
Madeleine Hinde	...	Brigitte Lynch
Suzanna Leigh	...	Paddy Lynch
Percy Herbert	...	Commissionaire
David Lodge	...	C.I.D. Inspector
Ronald Allen	...	Paul
Maxine Barrie	...	Singer
Jeannette Wild	...	Prostitute
Diana Chappell	...	Poolside girl
Susanna East	...	Teenage girl
Hani Borelle	...	Riverside girl
Ian Kiddy	...	Baptised boy
Dee Shenderey	...	Congregation member (as Dee Shenderry)

Also Known As:

Beware My Brethren (USA)
Beware of the Brethren (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

98 min | UK:87 min (cut version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | USA:R | UK:X | Norway:(Banned) (1973-2003) (cinema release)

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

World Arts Media

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the movie when the young boy is baptized, the boy is placed inside the baptismal pool. However during one shot of the congregation shouting, he is shown completely dry, back on his pew and seconds again later he is sat in the baptismal pool.

Soundtrack:

Wash Me In His Blood

If you like horror ... avoid this one!

Do you like horror? Yes? Good ... well, then I advise you to avoid this one and if you ever see it in the videostore, leave it peacefully on its shelf. Do you like splatter or gore? Avoid it, there's no single gory effect. Unless you consider amateuristic filmed murder scenes as splatter. Do you like horror with some laughs? Avoid it, because there's nothing to laugh about (no, more to cry about!) Do you like decent Amicus or Hammer productions, with charismatic actors like Cushing or Lee? Avoid it, because the story line is sooo boring, almost nothing happens and nobody can act. All the characters are very lame (annoying mother, annoying priest, annoying murderer) and I really had to keep myself awake and sit through this piece of crap. Even that other bad movie "The Beast From The Cellar" is better then this one. Ladies and gentlemen, AVOID this one. A movie that shows you how paint is drying, is much more exciting!