This fairly well made and entertaining William Castle shocker stars Andi Garrett and Sara Lane as Libby and Kit, two teenage girls who hang out at Libby's isolated country home when Libby's parents go on an overnight trip. Kids being kids, their idea of entertainment is picking random names out of the phone book and pestering the people with prank calls. Their worst mistake is when they dial up Steve Marak (John Ireland), and utter the memorable lines, "I saw what you did, and I know who you are." As fate would have it, Marak has just murdered his wife! While Marak spends his time covering up his crime, fending off the advances of his oversexed neighbour Amy Nelson (Joan Crawford), and desperately trying to get back in touch with the so-called "witnesses", the girls buy themselves more trouble by casing Steve's joint.
This isn't as enjoyable overall as this viewer would have liked. Castle isn't able to derive *that* much tension from the set-up, and the phone hijinks go on for a little too long. He also tries to balance a playful approach in the scenes with the girls with a more serious tone in the scenes with Ireland. The music score by Van Alexander is no help; sometimes it's just too jaunty.
Fortunately, the scenario gets more gripping as it plays out, and Castle finally delivers a decent suspense finale at the Mannering family homestead. Another major asset is extremely stark and atmospheric black & white cinematography by Joseph F. Biroc. The performances are solid from all concerned. Garrett and Lane create two reasonably engaging and upbeat characters. Ireland is fun as a stone cold psycho, and Crawford is effective as the woman who yearns to be with him. Leif Erickson, Patricia Breslin, John Archer, John Crawford, and Tom Hatten comprise the supporting cast, with Joyce Meadows contributing a brief cameo as the murder victim. The actual scene of her being killed is an obvious "Psycho" riff, but amusing.
Worth a look for thriller fans.
Remade for TV in 1988.
Seven out of 10.
This isn't as enjoyable overall as this viewer would have liked. Castle isn't able to derive *that* much tension from the set-up, and the phone hijinks go on for a little too long. He also tries to balance a playful approach in the scenes with the girls with a more serious tone in the scenes with Ireland. The music score by Van Alexander is no help; sometimes it's just too jaunty.
Fortunately, the scenario gets more gripping as it plays out, and Castle finally delivers a decent suspense finale at the Mannering family homestead. Another major asset is extremely stark and atmospheric black & white cinematography by Joseph F. Biroc. The performances are solid from all concerned. Garrett and Lane create two reasonably engaging and upbeat characters. Ireland is fun as a stone cold psycho, and Crawford is effective as the woman who yearns to be with him. Leif Erickson, Patricia Breslin, John Archer, John Crawford, and Tom Hatten comprise the supporting cast, with Joyce Meadows contributing a brief cameo as the murder victim. The actual scene of her being killed is an obvious "Psycho" riff, but amusing.
Worth a look for thriller fans.
Remade for TV in 1988.
Seven out of 10.