Schizo (1976)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Pete Walker

Writers:

David McGillivray (writer)
Murray Smith (adaptation)

Release Date:

March 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sport

Tagline:

Schizophrenia... When the left hand doesn't know who the right hand is killing!!

Plot:

Samantha and Alan are getting married, but William Haskins isn't pleased. He grabs a train south to...

Plot Keywords:

Psychiatrist | Female Frontal Nudity | Stabbed In The Eye | Door Bell | Slasher

Cast

Lynne Frederick	...	Samantha
John Leyton	...	Alan Falconer
Stephanie Beacham	...	Beth
John Fraser	...	Leonard Hawthorne
Jack Watson	...	William Haskin
Queenie Watts	...	Mrs. Wallace
Trisha Mortimer	...	Joy
Paul Alexander	...	Peter McAllister
Robert Mill	...	Maitre d'
Colin Jeavons	...	Commissioner
Victor Winding	...	Sergeant
Raymond Bowers	...	Manager
Pearl Hackney	...	Lady at Seance
Terry Duggan	...	Editor
Lindsay Campbell	...	Falconer

Also Known As:

Amok
Blood of the Undead

Runtime:

USA:109 min | USA:98 min | Argentina:100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:18 | Argentina:18 (re-rating) | Argentina:X (original rating) | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Heritage

Trivia:

The last cinema film of John Fraser.

Movie Connections:

References Psycho (1960)

Superb 70's Brit-exploitation!

Pete Walker and his loyal scriptwriter David McGillivray were pretty much England's most controversial duo of filmmakers back in the glorious seventies. Opposite to Hammer's and Amicus' successful but politically correct horror movies, these two provided the British (and other) genre fans with provocative and violent films, stuffed with social criticism and obscene undertones. Their movies ("Frightmare", "House of Whipcord"...) aren't genius, but at least they always have originality and a handful of effective shock-moments. Same goes for this "Schizo", which remarkably blends an innovating slasher premise with some of the genre's oldest and most delightful clichés. Newly married ice-skating champion Samantha is stalked by the frustrated and pitiful lover of her murdered mother. Even though the the guy makes no real secret of his identity and even though his perpetrating attempts are amateurish, Samantha has great difficulties convincing her entourage she's in danger. "Schizo" basically is a simplistic horror movie (up till a certain point, at least), but it's praiseworthy how Walker & McGillivray make efforts to throw in psychological terror twists. The extended fright-scenes are well mounted and the make up effects are quite nasty despite the low budget production values. As usual in Pete Walker's movies, there's a twisted and very ingenious shock ending that marvelously illustrates the director's aversion to political correctness. Highly recommended!