Nigel P
This film relies very much upon its tiny cast, so the importance of its casting cannot be underestimated. Spanish Director José Ramón Larraz, the often volatile personality who went on to direct cult classic 'Vampyres' the same year, selected an ensemble that could hardly have been bettered.Considered a lost film since its last showing on television in 1983, this carefully paced, deeply atmospheric tale is only beginning to find a new level of appreciation since its rediscovery. Peter Vaughn, often cast as 'heavies' at the time is quietly menacing as Brady, the 'odd job man. Lorna Leilbron, who was so good in 'The Creeping Flesh' plays Anne, eminently sensible and unflappable. And, providing her usual extraordinary performance, Angel Pleasance plays Helen, who lives in her huge inherited estate in the middle of secluded English countryside, convalescing from some undisclosed breakdown and yet still clearly suffering. Whilst not quite as other-worldly as she was in 'From Beyond the Grave' earlier in the year, her more subtle playing of quiet madness reveals itself as the story plays on.The direction is sedate and restrained by Larraz's standards, yet drenched in doomy, sinister atmosphere. Even a scene as seemingly innocent as Helen sitting alone in the spacious living room, darkened by the heavy clouds outside, the windows buffeted by the storm, is oppressive and unnerving.The story-line is thin and it comes as a huge non-surprise to find the deranged killer on Anne and other sundry characters is Helen. And yet the fact that Brady is too obviously a red herring (although hardly unimpeachable) doesn't disappoint because Pleasance plays it so fascinatingly well.
christopher-underwood
I remember loving this upon its original theatrical release and subsequently being appalled that all I could get to re-watch it was a third generation video copy. Now at last thanks to the BFI a pristine, full colour print is available and it looks wonderful. I have to confess that now I am not struggling to see this through some washed out fuzz I am able to detect that the tale is not as originally told as it might be. Nevertheless it does look great with its lakeside setting and woodland scenes and Angela Pleasance gives a fantastic performance. She acts like some curious and wounded animal with jerky off camera stares that are most disconcerting but we are not really surprised when the killing begins. Well done though and if this lacks some of the more vivid sex and violence of other films from the director it probably does remain his most professional effort. Seems like I'm damning with feint praise but I feel that Larraz probably achieved everything he wanted to with this but somehow lost that crazy delirium present in some of his less perfect outings.
John Seal
Jose Larraz's Symptoms has atmosphere to spare: shot in a decaying manor house in the fecund British countryside, there's nary a set-up that doesn't feature dust, rising damp, shadows, or rain. It also features a truly excellent performance by Angela Pleasence as Helen Ramsay, the flower frail owner-occupier of the manor, as well as solid support from gorgeous Lorna Heilbron as her friend Anne. Unfortunately, the story itself is as predictable as can be, confirming all the worst suspicions you probably conjured up during the first reel. That said, this is a film in dire need of a DVD release: the only available source material is a wretched Belgian VHS tape with colours that drop in and out at random, hideous reel change markers, and poor image resolution that blurs much of the action and makes the interior sequences a chore to sit through. I'm giving it a 5 for now, but I suspect a nice pin-sharp digital restoration would reveal a film more worthy of a 6 or 7.
HumanoidOfFlesh
First of all I love pretty explicit and audacious lesbian vampire flick "Vampyres"(1974),but more rare and obscure "Symptoms" is even better and certainly different in tone.It's a very subtle,calm and restrained horror film with plenty of mysterious atmosphere.Helen Ramsey arrives back from Switzerland to her old-fashioned family home,accompanied by a friend Ann West.It quickly becomes clear that Helen suffers from a nervous disposition.At night both Helen and Ann hear voices in the house and Helen seems convinced that there is something in the attic,a trap door to which is in the ceiling in a corner of her room."Symptoms" is a genuinely frightening horror film about a woman slowly slipping completely into madness.The cinematography is striking,the interior sets are terrifyingly dark and the acting by Angela Pleasence is fantastic.I fell in love with this film and can't praise it enough.
AD
