Hysteria

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Audience Member Produced by Hammer and released by MGM, this Freddie Francis-directed movie is kinda sorta a nascent giallo, in that a foreigner in a strange land must overcome amnesia and solve a crime that the police are ineffectual at investigating. Chris Smith wakes up in an English hospital after a car accident, unable to recall much of his life. Even four months later, he still can't remember much and is under the care of Dr. Keller and his bills and apartment are being paid by a mysterious benefactor. Also — he may hallucinate from time to time. And he keeps seeing a woman in a photo that he's sure that he knows. And oh yeah, before we forget, dead bodies start showing up in the shower. This was written by Jimmy Sangster, Swho also wrote The Legacy; Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? and tons of stuff for Hammer including Dracula Prince of Darkness, The Revenge of Frankenstein; The Mummy and more. He also wrote one of the best non-Bond Eurospy films, Deadlier than the Male as well as some great made for TV movies that also have a giallo feel like Scream, Pretty Peggy; A Taste for Evil and No Place to Hide. There are better noir, giallo and Hammer movies for you to seek out, but hey — it's not a total waste of time. I'm a Freddie Francis and Jimmy Sangster fan, so I enjoyed it. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review ashley h Hysteria is a disappointing film. It is about an American who wakes up in an English hospital unable to remember anything of his life before a recent car accident. Robert Webber and Anthony Newlands give terrible performances. The script is badly written. Freddie Francis did a horrible job directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member From Hammer, who around this time made a series of psychological thrillers, to try and get away from the gothic horrors they were becoming renowned for. This one was directed by Freddie Francis, (Paranoiac (1963), The Evil of Frankenstein (1964) and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)) and produced and written by Hammer veteran Jimmy Sangster. It's a very stylish and compelling thriller, done with panache. It has American Chris Smith (Robert Webber) who was found on the side of the road after a bad car accident, and is suffering a nasty case of amnesia. He has been having sessions with Dr. Keller (Anthony Newlands) to try and see if he can remember anything, but with no luck. Chris only has one clue, a photograph of model Denise James (Lelia Goldoni), but private investigator Hemmings (Maurice Denham) is having no luck finding her. But a mysterious benefactor has given Chris a luxury penthouse apartment to live in, although Chris seems to be hearing noises coming from next door, even though the flat next door is unoccupied and derelict... It's a good thriller, and it does have a very jazzy flavour to it, it's a different kind of Hammer film, and their thrillers certainly had more style. However, Hammer have blood on display in this one, and a few cheeky references to Psycho (1960) along the way. But this manages to be complex and a very engaging film. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the best comedy I ever saw! and it comes from a true story! The plot is about the invention of the vibrator but the story is never vulgar, on the contrary, it's very intelligent and ironic. The cast is perfect assembled and the dialogues are coerent and interesting. I almost didn't recognize Rupert Everett... maybe did he used some plastic surgeon? Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member really enjoyable film, great twists. I had a lot of fun deciphering it. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member One of Hammer's last black & white "mini-Hitchcock's" and by this stage the format is recognisable, the difference is that this time it's an American male who is being plotted against. Neverheless this is a good suspenser and well worth a watch. The film is stolen by the wonderful Maurice Denham's down-at-heel British private eye. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Hysteria

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