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      The Spiral Staircase

      1975 1h 29m Mystery & Thriller List
      Reviews 29% 50+ Ratings Audience Score At a mansion, a serial killer stalks a young woman (Jacqueline Bisset),the owner's niece, who cannot speak. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

      View All (3) Critics Reviews
      Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 3/5 Oct 8, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Jul 17, 2005 Full Review Filmcritic.com Rated: 3/5 Jun 6, 2001 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      dave s One has to wonder why a remake of 1946's The Spiral Staircase, a pretty decent little thriller worth watching, was necessary. Other than the presence of Jacqueline Bisset and Christopher Plummer, the 1975 film has little or nothing to offer. A killer is on the loose, targeting those with handicaps. Bisset's character, mute after a childhood trauma, finds herself in a secluded mansion that exists in what seems to be a neverending storm, lightning flashing and thunder booming seemingly around the clock. And then the inevitable killings commence, all leading to the incredibly dull climax and predictable twist. The direction is ham-fisted (enough of the close-ups of the killer's eyes, already), the dialogue is wooden, the acting is sub-par, and the story is convoluted. Stick with the original and take a pass on this junk. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A serial killer targets people with disabilities and eventually stalks his mute niece at the family mansion. Remake of 1946 film has limited action but pretty good character development. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member This is one bad movie that you may wonder why on earth was it made in the first place. It could have been a high camp especially with the drunken cook who pours alcohol on the chicken. That was a funny bit! Seriously, the movie is so anti-PC...a killer who murders women with disabilities. It begins with him shooting a blind girl but the camera only shows his gloved hands and red eye. It's not hard to guess who the killer is, at least there's 2 possibilities. Next, we're bombarded with long lens camera views, a raging rainstorm, a mansion that looks like a museum, and the unlikiest characters you'll ever find in a movie. The policeman who's trigger happy, the secretary who's making out with her employer, the brother who's a war veteran, the grandmother on insulin, the nurse Ratchet-type, the dipsomaniac chef. None of these characters are interesting and their dialogue is terrible. Jacqueline Bisset plays the deaf woman and in flashback, we see that she watched her family burn to death. It's implausible that with money, she couldn't get the right therapy. It's laughable that Bisset is dressed to the hilt and looks like she's modeling. Christopher Plummer seems like he's in this one for the paycheck. I really don't know why it's called "The Spiral Staircase" except people walk and up and down. It has no significance to the plot. This movie is certified as a "dog." Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member 1970s remake of 1945 film noir with a killer targeting the handicapped. Very unprofessional staff at the Institute. Extreme close ups of the killer's eyes do not add to the suspense. The original has got to be better than this. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member A serial killer targets people with disabilities and eventually stalks his mute niece at the family mansion. Remake of 1946 film has limited action but pretty good character development. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member 1975 thriller starring Jacqueline Bisset and Christopher Plummer was a "Made For TV" film I understand in the USA although it was a theatrical release internationally. Pretty good thriller in a Hitchcockian sense ... my favorite character was the nurse played by Elaine Stritch ... and what was up with the female cook who seemed to be on the booze a little more than she should? ... lots of lightning storms to add to the storyline ... and as for the "spiral staircase", I'd like to add one to my own home! :) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Spiral Staircase

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis At a mansion, a serial killer stalks a young woman (Jacqueline Bisset),the owner's niece, who cannot speak.
      Director
      Peter Collinson
      Production Co
      Raven Films
      Genre
      Mystery & Thriller
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      1h 29m