Being somebody that loved 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane', a film that 'The Nanny' has been often inevitably compared to, that was enough to intrigue me into seeing 'The Nanny'. As well as admiring Bette Davis hugely, liking the premise a lot and having liked to loved a lot of Hammer's films. The studio responsible for some of the best Frankenstein and Dracula (even if a couple of the latter films weren't so good) films as just some examples of their fine work.
'The Nanny' is not the best of Hammer House of Horror's work and not one of Davis's best films, but it has more than enough of what made their films as enjoyable as they were and what made Davis so appealing as an actress is also on display. The premise also isn't wasted, even if it wasn't fully realised. It is well worth watching and generally an effective "chiller" with a lot of great things, not on the same level as 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' but the difference between them is not too wide at the same time.
Sure, there are things that could have been done better. Not all the pacing is quite there, with some of the pacing in the early stages dragging a bit.
As quite intriguing the flashbacks were, they would have been even more effective if they revealed things that actually did happen rather than the opposite. It would have made the viewer feel perhaps less cheated. The ending was gripping and well staged but the identity of the killer didn't shock me all that much.
It is a great-looking film though, beautifully and atmospherically shot, there is a genuine eeriness to the lighting and the Gothic look to the set design works to the film's advantage. The music is haunting without being melodramatic, while Seth Holt (one director who should have been better known) directs valiantly and with great skill throughout.
From start to finish, the script is intelligent and not rambling. While the flashbacks are flawed somewhat, the story is still very clever and has a genuine tension and chilling feel which builds increasingly as the story develops with twists and turns that always intrigue. All the acting is very good, with a restrained but very powerful in presence Davis (especially at the end) dominating. Another standout, despite the character perhaps not being very subtly written, is the beyond his years William Dix.
Overall, not great but effective despite the story at times needing more work. 7/10
'The Nanny' is not the best of Hammer House of Horror's work and not one of Davis's best films, but it has more than enough of what made their films as enjoyable as they were and what made Davis so appealing as an actress is also on display. The premise also isn't wasted, even if it wasn't fully realised. It is well worth watching and generally an effective "chiller" with a lot of great things, not on the same level as 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane' but the difference between them is not too wide at the same time.
Sure, there are things that could have been done better. Not all the pacing is quite there, with some of the pacing in the early stages dragging a bit.
As quite intriguing the flashbacks were, they would have been even more effective if they revealed things that actually did happen rather than the opposite. It would have made the viewer feel perhaps less cheated. The ending was gripping and well staged but the identity of the killer didn't shock me all that much.
It is a great-looking film though, beautifully and atmospherically shot, there is a genuine eeriness to the lighting and the Gothic look to the set design works to the film's advantage. The music is haunting without being melodramatic, while Seth Holt (one director who should have been better known) directs valiantly and with great skill throughout.
From start to finish, the script is intelligent and not rambling. While the flashbacks are flawed somewhat, the story is still very clever and has a genuine tension and chilling feel which builds increasingly as the story develops with twists and turns that always intrigue. All the acting is very good, with a restrained but very powerful in presence Davis (especially at the end) dominating. Another standout, despite the character perhaps not being very subtly written, is the beyond his years William Dix.
Overall, not great but effective despite the story at times needing more work. 7/10