Christopher Lee fans may be a little disappointed by the use of their idol in this Hammer movie; he only has about three short scenes in total. But if they can get beyond the lack of Lee, they will probably find the rest of the movie to be pretty entertaining. Now, I will admit that the script has some notable flaws, which are especially apparent when you watch the movie for a second time. For example, why one character dives into a swimming pool to look for a body eventually doesn't make sense, nor how the found body soon after finds its way into the car without the heroine noticing. Such flaws as those do diminish the impact of the movie, along with the somewhat slow pace and somewhat "soft" feel of the entire enterprise. But patient viewers who look behind those flaws will be rewarded by some decent twists toward the end of the movie. And while the movie may be a little slow and soft, it never gets to be boring. It's not the kind of Hammer movie most people associate with the film company, but it is an interesting and decent change of pace.

Another movie completely unknown to me until discovering it on TCM. This is an early Hammer release, more a straight suspense tale than horror, a little reminiscent of Diabolique. The plotting is everything, so take care to avoid spoilers. Susan Strasberg plays a young woman in a wheelchair who returns to her family home after a ten year estrangement. Oddly, her father isn't there to greet her, only her seemingly friendly step-mother, and strange things begin happening straight away. Clearly something is askew, but having just arrived, whom can she trust to sort it out? Strasberg is very appealing as a vulnerable yet stubborn and headstrong girl in a strange environment. The movie clocks in at just over 80 minutes, yet also takes its time in establishing her situation and the handful of characters. This unhurried but efficient pacing is a major virtue. When the dramatic twists do arrive, they pull no punches. -Christopher Lee has a supporting role as a possibly dubious physician.-The original title, Taste of Fear, is a better fit (Scream of Fear sounds a bit silly, like calling a film Killed to Death). -The opening scene, a bleak discovery on a lake, is one of the most striking and lets you know you're in good hands. Recommended.

I thought I had seen all of the Hammer horrors but this was my first viewing of this little gem. I suppose it is a suspense thriller rather than horror but certainly has it's moments and even made me jump from my seat at one point. With a nod to Les Diaboliques, which was clearly an influence and inevitably to Hitchcock, who's own Psycho came out the same year and probably helped bury this film, this is nevertheless a most impressive black and white gem. Susan Strasberg and Ann Todd are excellent, helped by the largely good dialogue, but I was not always happy with Ronald Lewis and very disappointed with the Christopher Lee cameo, but then was he ever quite a s good as he thought he was?! Sacrilege, I know but sometimes I do wonder about his performances and to be honest if he couldn't do a convincing French accent then don't bother. Anyway, my personal gripe over, the film is still highly recommended.

Back in 1973 I had a Bell and Howell 16mm projector and used to hire films to show to family and others.This film was one of them and I can remember it scaring people back then.Yesterday I watched it again through a modern projector, as BBC 2 had shown it recently, and thought it was just as good now as back in 1973.It benefits from being shot in black and white, the acting is very good from all the cast, and there are some scary moments, the swimming pool being an obvious one.It is really good to see an old fashioned horror film with no over-the-top effects, just a genuinely chilling story, well worth waiting for it to be shown again as not sure if available on DVD or video.