Those expecting a haunted house story or slasher with exploitative ingredients need not bother with this film, but viewers who like their horror stories with subtlety and a slow-paced sense of impending doom should check out this nifty flick. The main drawback to this film is the lack of even a single likable character in the story. The protagonist, Ingrid, played by May Britt, is a cold, self-absorbed, man-hating woman who cannot be liked. The sheriff, well played by Aldo Ray, might be the only likable character in this film but when he disregards Ingrid's claims of being attacked because he is suffering from a sickness, one can't like him that much either.
The main premise of this film concerns a serial rapist preying on the women of rural community. There are a handful of suspects, ranging from the town Casanova, the new to town drifter and Ingrid's uncle (Cameron Mitchell). When Ingrid is attacked and claims that the town Casanova raped her, the sheriff thinks he has his man until he learns that there might be more to Ingrid than meets the eye.
VIOLENCE: $$$ (Not too graphic, but there are several rape and attempted rape scenes - handled about as tastefully as a director can handle such an incident. There is a shooting and a stabbing, but when the violence occurs you couldn't care less about who is the recipient of the bad guy's wrath since everyone in this picture is unlikable).
STORY: $$$$$ (Well handled and thought-out screenplay that gives the viewer quite an unexpected twist. Halfway through the film the rapist is revealed by Ingrid but now Sheriff Aldo Ray must investigate to find out if Ingrid speaks the truth or is trying to frame the Casanova - who has just knocked up the sheriff's daughter (Kendall Jackson).
NUDITY: $ (There are two shower scenes but you see nothing. Aldo Ray also catches his daughter in bed with the town Casanova, but she scurries off screen swiftly).
ACTING: $$ (The acting is the main drawback to this film. With a more capable cast this very well could have been a cult classic - if not something more. Aldo Ray and Cameron Mitchell give the best performances in this film. May Britt, as the lead, was over her head in this film and failed to make me care for her character. Her acting talents are wanting to say the least).