Ever-sexy and ever-delightful Susan George plays Amanda, a young babysitter who goes to watch over the son of older couple Helen (Honor Blackman) and Jim (George Cole). Unfortunately, Amanda doesn't know their whole sordid story, leading to a scenario wherein Amanda and the kid (played by the adorable son of the films' director) are repeatedly terrorized by an unhinged man (Ian Bannen).
Director Peter Collinson ("The Italian Job", "Straight On till Morning") does a commendable job of building up the suspense for the first act. The script (by Tudor Gates) includes such classic elements as the "old dark house" and characters with a secret (that gets a reveal sooner than you'd think). The casting of young George works because she has an inherent vulnerability about her, yet is responsible enough to always be concerned about the childs' welfare. However, Gates and Collinson would have done better to keep the truth about the maniac hidden a while longer, despite the excellent (and not entirely unsympathetic) portrayal by Bannen. Soon, the scenario has led into a typical stand-off between the maniac and the authorities, and the couple, who have arrived home to a melodrama full of histrionics.
The film is effectively violent, managing to get gory without going over the top in this department. And it also showcases Georges' assets to memorable effect (for one thing, she has a make-out scene with Dennis Waterman, who plays her goofy boyfriend Chris). The whole cast is superb; also co-starring are John Gregson as a helpful doctor, and Maurice Kaufmann as an officious police inspector.
Overall, "Fright" has good touches (this viewer too liked the way that the creep at times can't distinguish between Amanda and Helen), and solid sequences, but emerges as a largely routine thriller, complete with an unbelievable and silly resolution.
Seven out of 10.
Director Peter Collinson ("The Italian Job", "Straight On till Morning") does a commendable job of building up the suspense for the first act. The script (by Tudor Gates) includes such classic elements as the "old dark house" and characters with a secret (that gets a reveal sooner than you'd think). The casting of young George works because she has an inherent vulnerability about her, yet is responsible enough to always be concerned about the childs' welfare. However, Gates and Collinson would have done better to keep the truth about the maniac hidden a while longer, despite the excellent (and not entirely unsympathetic) portrayal by Bannen. Soon, the scenario has led into a typical stand-off between the maniac and the authorities, and the couple, who have arrived home to a melodrama full of histrionics.
The film is effectively violent, managing to get gory without going over the top in this department. And it also showcases Georges' assets to memorable effect (for one thing, she has a make-out scene with Dennis Waterman, who plays her goofy boyfriend Chris). The whole cast is superb; also co-starring are John Gregson as a helpful doctor, and Maurice Kaufmann as an officious police inspector.
Overall, "Fright" has good touches (this viewer too liked the way that the creep at times can't distinguish between Amanda and Helen), and solid sequences, but emerges as a largely routine thriller, complete with an unbelievable and silly resolution.
Seven out of 10.