Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

John D. Hancock

Writers:

John D. Hancock (writer)
Lee Kalcheim (writer)

Release Date:

6 August 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

Something is after Jessica. Something very cold, very wet... and very dead...

Plot:

A recently institutionalized woman has bizarre experiences after moving into a supposedly haunted country farmhouse and fears she may be losing her sanity once again.

Plot Keywords:

Mental Hospital | Farmhouse | Wedding | Vampire | Harpy

Cast

Zohra Lampert	...	Jessica
Barton Heyman	...	Duncan
Kevin O'Connor	...	Woody
Gretchen Corbett	...	The Girl
Alan Manson	...	Sam Dorker
Mariclare Costello	...	Emily

Also Known As:

The Secret Beneath the Lake (Canada: English title) (promotional title)
What Killed Sam Dorker? (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for terror/violence and some sensuality.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:(Banned) (1972) | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

34 North Main Street, Essex, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

One of Stephen King's favorite horror films.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Duncan hands Jessica the "mole" in the cemetery scene, you can clearly see that it's a mouse and not a mole.

Quotes:

Emily: Do you like my new dress? My new old dress?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sixth Sense: Dear Joan: We're Going to Scare You to Death (#2.2)" (1972)

Scared me 30 years ago and scares me now. Very effective.

The scariest movie you will never see on TV. This movie should have been a hit. Since it wasn't, it should have 'cult' status. Why it doesn't, I don't know. Genre - horror. Sub-genre haunted house, return from the dead, psychopath, strange little town. Filmed on location in CT with that great "B" movie feel. The lack of special effects and gore make it all the more effective. Simple but amazingly good soundtrack. I saw this movie 30 years ago and it really haunted me. I found an import on DVD for which the quality is quite good. Many viewers see the movie as an enigma or riddle. Having seen it several times now I think the title says it all. Pay close attention to who either gets or almost gets killed. Why is the little town populated only by men? The actress playing Emily needs no makeup to look like just what she is playing in the movie. A few things about the movie don't hang together and the continuity might suffer a little. But have no doubt, it is one very scary and effective film.