I saw Burnt Offerings at a local last run theatre in '76 when I was about 12 and it scared the hell out of me. It is a film that proves you don't need gallons of gore and cheap jump scares to be an effective horror film.
It's been a long time since I've seen it but I will never forget several key moments in the story that left a lingering effect after leaving the theatre,namely the creepy chauffeur with his dark sunglasses and a demented smile fixed on his face. Every time he appeared on screen my spine just stiffened. He speaks not a line of dialogue (at least to the best of my memory) but he is as nightmarish as any mask-wearing mad slasher. The reaction of Oliver Reed perfectly captured my own sitting that theatre. For a PG-rated film it is quite scary. It's a slow burn, building gradually as the family slowly succumbs to the evil of the house. It is never explicitly stated what the source of the evil is and is really about how it is working on each family member,especially the Oliver Reed character. There is one particular scene (I will not spoil it here) involving Reed, his mother played by Bette Davis, and the chauffeur that had me clutching the arm rest of my chair. It is a film that should be rediscovered by horror fans. It might lack all the tropes of modern horror films but it is all for the better. Be patient and let the story unfold and adjust to the pace....it is worth the effort.
It's been a long time since I've seen it but I will never forget several key moments in the story that left a lingering effect after leaving the theatre,namely the creepy chauffeur with his dark sunglasses and a demented smile fixed on his face. Every time he appeared on screen my spine just stiffened. He speaks not a line of dialogue (at least to the best of my memory) but he is as nightmarish as any mask-wearing mad slasher. The reaction of Oliver Reed perfectly captured my own sitting that theatre. For a PG-rated film it is quite scary. It's a slow burn, building gradually as the family slowly succumbs to the evil of the house. It is never explicitly stated what the source of the evil is and is really about how it is working on each family member,especially the Oliver Reed character. There is one particular scene (I will not spoil it here) involving Reed, his mother played by Bette Davis, and the chauffeur that had me clutching the arm rest of my chair. It is a film that should be rediscovered by horror fans. It might lack all the tropes of modern horror films but it is all for the better. Be patient and let the story unfold and adjust to the pace....it is worth the effort.