mark.waltz
But instead, she's holding the man hostage whom she believes impregnated her daughter, rejected her call for help when she told him that she was pregnant and then committed suicide. Winters seems to be playing a religious freak, cursing Bradford Dillman out at every turn as she keeps him locked in a cage in her basement. Shelley is fascinating to watch, an intense method actress who takes every action seriously as her character gets more and more demented. Dillman's partner (Stuart Whitman), wife (Carol Ann Rosen) and her friend (Leslie Charleson) try their best to find out what happened to him, with Charleson taking Rossen to see a "clairvoyant". Rossen seems intent on emulating Winters' performance, the wrong choice to make. Charleson, "General Hospital's" Dr. Monica Quartermaine for 40 years, is much more relaxed, reminding me of a young Farrah. Refreshingly short, this is one of several memorable TV "hag horror" movies of the week (and one of several made with Shelley) is fun, a bit spooky, and when Winters is on screen, mesmerizing.
moonspinner55
Husband and father Bradford Dillman has an important briefcase full of documents switched on purpose by a vengeful woman hoping to lure him into her basement trap; that lady is none other than Shelley Winters, once again showing her mettle as a forceful, off-balanced foe. Well-made TV-movie isn't the straightforward thriller it may first appear to be. The missing man's wife, who is 'sensitive' to psychic vibrations, consults with a professional mind-reader to locate her husband (after the police department proves to be indifferent, natch). It all leads to a somewhat strenuous conclusion that piles up both bodies and improbabilities. Winters, however, is a villainess to contend with right up to the end; she pulls off some creepy dramatic scenes without going too far over the top (Kathy Bates might have studied this performance before "Misery"). Interesting work from the entire cast, particularly Carol Rossen, a real wild card as Dillman's spouse (you can't quite get a reading on her, which works for the role). Joseph Stefano adapted his teleplay from a novel by Elizabeth Davis, which doesn't bear close scrutiny. Dominic Frontiere composed the eerie music; talented John Alonzo was the cinematographer.
GUENOT PHILIPPE
I will not add anything to the comments made by the other users. This feature is very efficient and the actors great for a TV product, especially Shelley Winters. She was, one of the most known Actor's Studio's former student. Jud Taylor is a specialized director for TVMs. I spent 75 minutes in a unforgettable way. Good film indeed. And I will only say that it reminds me a french movie, made two years later: Pierre Granier Deferre's LA CAGE - "THE CAGE" - in which a woman - I don't remember her name - gets Lino Ventura trapped in the basement of her house. I don't remember why. But that's not important.I don't think there are so many movies with this very topic.That's all, folks.
dave-1599
I saw this movie a few years ago and thought it was one of the most clever psychic / thriller / psycho movies I'd ever seen. I wish it was available on DVD / VHS or was on TNT. Shelly Winters's daughter commits suicide after a guy breaks her heart. Shelly kidnaps the guy so as to take revenge. The guy's wife finds him via ESP and working with a fake psyhcic who comes to believe that ESP is real. Many other clever twists and a generally very cool movie (the guy Shelly kidnapped isn't the one who broke her daughter's heart, and......well I don't wanna ruin it). Great flick! Should be remade today with Kathy Bates (Dolores Claiborne) in the lead role, Kevin Costner as Frank Tanner - would be a blockbuster!
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