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Experiment in Terror

Play trailer Poster for Experiment in Terror 1962 2h 3m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Kelly Sherwood (Lee Remick) is a bank teller who is terrorized by murderer Red Lynch (Ross Martin). Red, whose asthmatic voice is heard through his many terrifying phone calls, threatens to kill Kelly if she doesn't steal a large sum of money from the bank. In an attempt to ensure her compliance, Red begins to threaten those closest to Kelly. Despite her terror, Kelly involves the F.B.I., including Agent Ripley (Glenn Ford), who works to capture Red before the villain can get to Kelly.
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Experiment in Terror

Critics Reviews

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Adam Nayman The Ringer 04/15/2019
The mix of methodical investigative protocol and aberrant psychology against a twisty San Francisco backdrop (including a climax at Candlestick Park during a Giants game) anticipates Bay City thrillers from Dirty Harry to Zodiac. Go to Full Review
Chris Wicking Time Out 01/26/2006
After Carpenter and De Palma, it may seem a little dated; yet Edwards' classical feel for pure cinema remains unalloyed. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jul 5
3.5/4
Ross Martin is memorably menacing and Lee Remick is effectively anguished in this superlative suspenser. Go to Full Review
Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Jul 3
3.5/5
Even as "Experiment in Terror" tends to loosen its initially taut grip too often across an overlong 123 minutes, intriguing themes (and a deepening of the film's title) emerge in what unexpectedly becomes a triptych of women in the life of its villain. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 10/09/2022
3/4
...erratic yet mostly satisfying... Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/24/2020
8/10
Aptly grants a satisfyingly original murder-mystery experience. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Insomniac X Feb 7 A solid thriller with strong procedural storytelling and immersive San Francisco locations. Glenn Ford is perfectly cast as the stoic lawman, and delivers a mature and emotionally subtle performance, communicating more through his eyes than what's on the page. While a few of the story's threads eventually begin to fray, it manages to maintain enough tension for a thrilling final sequence. See more helder f Feb 2 This is a well-crafted movie about a female bank teller who finds herself under the coercion of a mysterious man to rob the bank. While it lacks significant plot twists or moments of great tension, it is a solid film where everything unfolds smoothly and logically. See more Will G Jan 4 This was a good noir movie. It was about a criminal trying to convince a woman to rob a bank. She hides with her sister and gets investigators on the case. The acting was great. Same director as “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. See more Justin L 11/26/2024 While bigger studios were making bloated movies, in color, like Sound of Music and Doctor Dolittle Columbia made this little gem with the amazing talents of a very young Lee Remick and Stephanie Powers. Glenn Ford was making noir for Columbia for a decade already-the go-to gun show with efficient professionalism. You can see hints that guided Dirty Harry movies including obscure settings around San Francisco. The ending of this movie similar to the Dirty Harry ending at Kezar stadium . Slow aerial pullback and fog. The movie has some "terror" in it's day but this is really a procedural drama as the FBI(back when it was good at its job) gets this case moving on the slimmest of info using their system of investigative rules. Reminded me of British crime drama with a little 1960s salaciousness. Seen on Criterion Collection-better than Netflix. See more Irene M 11/06/2024 Can't recall why we watched it, but glad we did. Directed by Blake Edwards. Enjoyed Glen Ford. and frankly, watching a movie where NO ONE has a laptop or cell phone was quite refreshing. See more Ed M 10/31/2024 Good movie, but it has been done hundreds of times ("Death Wish" comes to mind as a bloodier version of it). Still, this is a good watch. Glenn Ford is always a pleasure, even if he isn't Bogart. Ross Martin as the killer is perfectly evil, and certainly belongs in any study of great movie villains. A young Stefanie Powers is also an Easter Egg for anyone who remembers her from the 1970's. Let's not forget the classic Henry Mancini music in this film! See more Read all reviews
Experiment in Terror

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Movie Info

Synopsis Kelly Sherwood (Lee Remick) is a bank teller who is terrorized by murderer Red Lynch (Ross Martin). Red, whose asthmatic voice is heard through his many terrifying phone calls, threatens to kill Kelly if she doesn't steal a large sum of money from the bank. In an attempt to ensure her compliance, Red begins to threaten those closest to Kelly. Despite her terror, Kelly involves the F.B.I., including Agent Ripley (Glenn Ford), who works to capture Red before the villain can get to Kelly.
Director
Blake Edwards
Producer
Blake Edwards
Screenwriter
The Gordons
Production Co
Geoffrey-Kate Productions
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 13, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 27, 2010
Runtime
2h 3m
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