Sweet, fragile, but resilient wheelchair-bound cripple Penny Appleby (a beautifully warm and touching performance by the lovely Susan Strasberg) goes to France to see her father at a remote seaside villa. Alas, her dad turns out to be away on an errand. Penny starts to see the corpse of her father all over the place. However, her kindly stepmother Jane (well played by Ann Todd) insists that he's still alive. Has Penny lost her mind? Or is someone trying to drive the poor girl mad? Ably directed by Seth Holt, with a clever and compelling script by Jimmy Sangster, a genuinely spooky atmosphere (the scenes with the father's dead body are pretty creepy), handsome black and white cinematography by Douglas Slocombe, sturdy acting from a super cast, a properly shivery score by Clifton Parker, a gradual, yet steady pace, and one doozy of an unexpected surprise plot twist towards the very end, this tidy and absorbing thriller keeps the viewer guessing right to the stirring and startling conclusion. Strasberg simply shines in a rare substantial starring role; she makes for a charming and sympathetic heroine, cuts loose with a few great full-throated screams, and, of course, looks absolutely gorgeous throughout. Moreover, there are fine supporting contributions by Ronald Lewis as affable chauffeur Bob and Christopher Lee as mysterious, concerned physician Dr. Pierre Gerrard. A solid and satisfying winner that's well worth seeing.
Review of Scream of Fear
