Coventry The very least you can say about "A Reflection of Fear" is that it is a moody and atmospheric thriller! The story might feel familiar (especially when you watch a lot of obscure cult/horror movies) and somewhat predictable, but the tone of the film remains unsettling throughout thanks to the slow pacing and extremely integer acting performances. However, what this movie clearly suffers from the most are all the oppressed controversial and unethical themes that were supposed to be processed into the script but then abruptly cut in order to obtain a PG rating. Always a shame when that happens… Marguerite Sterling is an isolated and quite eccentric teenage girl that lives with her mother and grandmother in a remote land house. She has long and embittered conversations with a doll named Aaron and gets ecstatic when she finds out that her estranged father Michael is coming to visit. Officially he's coming to ask his ex- wife for a divorce, so that he can marry with his new fiancée Anne that he brought along, but when he notices how socially incapable his daughter Marguerite is, he wants to stay. And then a mysterious killer dressed in black visits the premises… Like I said already, it's a shame about the (not-so-) subtly camouflaged taboo themes. The most disturbing yet simultaneously powerful sequences in "A Reflection of Fear" are those in which young Marguerite tenderly embraces and kisses her daddy while his new fiancée jealously observes. The film is kind of reminiscent in atmosphere and events to a handful of great classics, including "Psycho" and "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane", but director William A. Fraker nevertheless succeeds in giving it an own style and personality. Fraker primarily built his career as an eminent cinematographer and that he clearly demonstrates in several beautiful shots and camera compositions. With her rather odd facial structure and pale skin, Sondra Locke is ideally cast as the naturally uncanny Marguerite, but also Robert Shaw is exquisite as Michael. Shaw usually depicts robust and macho characters, like in "Jaws" for example, but here he impresses as the calm father figure. In fact, literally everyone in the cast – including supportive characters like the fiancée and even the investigating police detective – behaves like he/she is under the constant influence of Xanax or any other tranquilizing medicine! They all talk slowly and practically nothing seems to upset them, not even double murder. The integer performances give an extra dimension of creepy to already uncanny – but flawed – thriller.

sudburyiii I am going to have to try and balance out all these reviews that give this film more than a few stars. Although the other reviewers probably do like this film for various reasons, I found myself bored with it in the first 10 minutes. This is one of those typical 1970's thrillers which spend an hour and a half dragging through a story that could be told in a 10 minute short film. I immediately put this film in the "One Time Watch" category.I can't reveal too much of the film without giving away the plot, but much of the film involves an over bearing mother and her daughter (played by Sondra Locke) which, obviously, the crazy is leaking out. The director tried to intersperse mysterious happenings throughout the film which were blamed on local townsfolk, however, it was quite obvious who was responsible. (Once again I don't want to say too much for those that wish to watch this film.) The only "shocker," and I use that term loosely, was at the ending which I had pretty much guessed except for a minor detail.You can find a crisp clean copy of the transfer with very few flaws for a film from the 70's. There is a haze over part of the film, but that is the director's vision and not the film quality itself. The editing was a little choppy and I believe that a few more details for some of the scenes would have helped the flow of the story.Bottom line, for me this film was one of those films you would watch (back when we only had 12 channels) only because absolutely nothing else was on at the time. Don't get me wrong, I love the movies of the 70's, but this one made me tired.

acidburn-10 A Reflection In Fear tells the story of a wealthy man (Robert Shaw), returning home for the first time in 15 years to see his daughter and to divorce his ex wife so he can marry his fiancé He's devastated to learn his daughter is treated like a prisoner on the estate, locked away from society by a vindictive wife (Mary Ure) and mother-in-law (Signe Hasso). Marguerite lives in a fantasy world, with imaginary friends named Aaron who seems to come real and gets very jealous of Marguerite.I must say I watched this a while back and I was pleasantly surprised, it was a really interesting watch and I can see that this being from the early 70's has influenced many later slashers such as "Sleepaway Camp" and "Unhinged" I'd like to go into greater detail about this "debt" but doing so would ruin the surprise ending.Sondra Locke who plays the daughter Marguerite gave a mesmerising performance She looks so fragile and vulnerable in her Alice in Wonderland dresses, she really steals the scenes from the other cast members. Robert Shaw's performance is restrained but it's because his character is supposed to be oblivious to his daughter's sexual advances. He's still the best male actor in the cast and his larger than life qualities shine through. Mary Ure, Shaw's real wife at the time, has little dialogue but is able to convey evil and hatred with just a glance. Sally Kellerman also gives a strong performance as Anne, a woman who realises her future is crumbling before her eyes.All in all Reflection may be a forgotten gem, but I really liked it and has the presence of a strong cast and a strong story line definitely worth tracking down.

Doppelganger76 For a really minor film from the 70's, for some reason this one sticks with me - even this long after I saw it at a horror festival in the late 80's. Why? Maybe it's the idea that we all have secret urges and thoughts that could manifest themselves in the world, if we give them a vehicle.Sondra Locke does a great job of being a too-mousy-for-reality girl who has a BIG secret, of which I'm not sure even SHE'S aware.Cool ending, as well, with enough still remaining from the cuts for the viewer to get the idea.Catch this one, if you can. You won't be sorry.